Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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571. To ask the Minister for Health if he will list the international scientific studies which informed his Department's decision to impose compulsory mask-wearing in certain settings during the Covid-19 pandemic, and which have informed his recent advice that the public should wear masks on public transport this winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52705/22]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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649. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the studies that are informing the evidentiary basis demonstrating conclusively that mask wearing significantly reduces the spread of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53145/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 649 together.

International expert advice and guidance in relation to face masks continues to be that face masks can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community as a complementary non-pharmaceutical intervention to other measures.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public health advice has been informed by the epidemiological status of the disease, modelling projections, international advice and guidance, evolving evidence and practice both nationally and internationally, and the overarching priority of limiting the impact on public health and, in particular, protecting the following three core priorities:

- the protection of the most vulnerable;

- the continued provision of non-COVID health and social care services; and

- the need to protect the ongoing delivery of education and childcare.

Our approach has also been guided by core ethical principles: a duty to provide care, equity, solidarity, fairness, minimising harm, proportionality, reciprocity, and privacy. The Department of Health's 'Ethical Framework for Decision Making in a Pandemic'is available to read here.

In providing its public health advice, the NPHET for COVID-19 gave due consideration to face masks throughout the pandemic, specifically on the following dates:

- 11 May, 14 July, 1 October, 17and 25 November 2020;

- 8 April, 25 August, 18 October, 11 November, 25 November, ²December 2021; and

- 20January and 17 February 2022.

The NPHET’s recommendations to the Minister for Health have been published on the Department of Health website: here.

Agendas, minutes, and meeting papers from meetings of the NPHET have also been published on the Department of Health website here.

You will note from the NPHET’s minutes and recommendations that the following publications were considered in particular by NPHET Members in providing their advice to the Minister for Health and Government:

- World Health Organization - Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance, 5 June 2020, available here,

- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - Infection prevention and control for COVID-19 in healthcare settings - first update 12 March 2020, available here

- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: increased transmission in the EU/EEA and the UK – seventh update, 25 March 2020, available here

- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - Using face masks in the community: first update Effectiveness in reducing transmission of COVID-19, 15 February 2021, available here.

- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control - Assessing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, variants of concern, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and vaccine rollout on the EU/EEA, 15th Update, 10 June 2021, available here.

- HIQA – Evidence summary for face mask use by healthy people in the community, 21 August 2020, available here.

- HIQA – A rapid evidence update on face mask use by healthy people in the community to reduce SAR-CoV-2 transmission, 25November 2020, available here.

- HIQA – Advice to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, 25November 2020, available here.

- HIQA – Face masks and physical distancing to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2: An International review, 23 June 2021, available here

- HIQA - Advice to the National Public Health Emergency Team: Reduction of the minimum age for the application of mask wearing requirements and recommendations – Updated advice, 24 August 2021, available here.

While all remaining mandatory public health measures were removed from 28th February this year, the critical components of our collective and layered response remain. The current public health advice is published on the Department of Health’s website: here.

At present, mask wearing is advised on public transport and in healthcare settings. Mask wearing is also advised based on individual risk assessment. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should not be discouraged from doing so. Individuals who are vulnerable to COVID-19 are further advised to be aware of the risk associated with activities they may choose to engage in and to take measures to optimally protect themselves. Vulnerable individuals are advised to consider wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, such as may relate, for example, to social gatherings or other activities and events. This advice continues to be informed by WHO and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance, available at the following links:

-www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-masks

- www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/using-face-masks-community-reducing-covid-19-transmission

- CDC guidance on masks and evidence summary are available at the following links:

- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/masks.html

- www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

We will continue to ensure our response is agile and flexible, with an ability to respond rapidly and appropriately to any emerging threat. The Department of Health, through the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, together with colleagues in the HSE and the National Virus Reference Laboratory, continues to monitor the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 carefully, and will provide evidence-based public health advice to the Minister for Health for consideration in relation to ongoing decision-making processes in respect of the pandemic, as required.