Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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2315.To ask the Minister for Health to instruct the HSE to develop and launch the necessarily high-profile and wide public-information campaign, explaining how the best way to avoid long-Covid is to avoid infection with the SARSCoV2 virus, whose main transmission means is airborne, and where such infection is eminently avoidable if people are given the correct information on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32462/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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2316.To ask the Minister for Health if, in the interest of public health and well-being in the longer term, this also being critical for the economy and the provision of medical services, he will work with the Department of Transport to advertise on all public transport, the advisability of wearing high-quality respirators, especially when Covid numbers are high; if he will make such respirators, for example FFP2/FFP3, available to passengers easily and free of charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32464/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Health, through the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, together with colleagues in the HSE, monitors COVID-19 carefully. We will continue to ensure our response is agile and flexible, with an ability to respond rapidly and appropriately to any emerging threat. Public health advice relating to COVID-19 is kept under continuing review.

Wearing a face covering/mask is no longer mandatory; however, anyone who wishes to continue to wear a face covering/mask should not be discouraged from doing so.

COVID-19 can be a serious illness for those who are particularly vulnerable to complications of infection, including those who are older and those who have a weakened immune system.

The current advice for the public is:

• If you have respiratory symptoms, stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms have largely resolved. Avoid contact with people at higher risk of COVID-19.
• If you are an adult and test positive (PCR or antigen) for COVID-19, stay at home for 5 days. Avoid contact with people at higher risk of COVID-19.
• If you are aged <18 years and test positive (PCR or antigen) for COVID-19, stay at home for 3 full days after your symptoms start. Avoid contact with people at higher risk of COVID-19. After 3 days you can return to usual activities, school, etc., provided you feel well.