Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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614. To ask the Minister for Health if mask-wearing in health facilities such as hospitals reduces transmission of Covid-19 and/or RSV; if he will outline any evidential basis for same; and if he will outline the rationale for the recent decision to no longer require the wearing of facemasks in such settings. [22523/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of the recent announcement from the WHO that "COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)”.

Current public health advice continues to be informed by World Health Organization (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance, as published.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in healthcare settings is an operational responsibility of the HSE. The HSE’s full updated evidence-based recommendations regarding Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in healthcare settings, including the use of face masks, can be found here:

www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/ppe/.

healthservice.hse.ie/staff/covid-19-staff-support/ppe-guidance-for-staff/#:~:text=When%20to%20wear%20a%20facemask,confirmed%20COVID%2D19%2Frespiratory%20illness.

The Deputy will note from this guidance:

‘As part of Standard Precautions, it is the responsibility of every healthcare worker to undertake a point of care risk assessment prior to performing a clinical care task, as this will inform the level of infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions needed, including the choice of appropriate PPE’.

I wish to assure the Deputy that Department of Health, through the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, will continue to monitor COVID-19 and other circulating viruses carefully.