Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
970. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if he plans to review the guidance for special needs schools such as a school (details supplied) to recommend the continued wearing of masks in classrooms given the high level of risk arising from the children’s complex and special needs. [14493/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has accepted the recommendations of NPHET that, from 28 February 2022, there is no longer a requirement to wear face coverings in schools. Staff and student/pupils may continue to wear a face covering/mask if they wish to do so on a personal basis and I am informed that schools should continue to make masks available on request as they are currently doing.
In the letter in which the NPHET recommendations were outlined, the Chief Medical Officer advised that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and levels of infection remain high. A cohort of the population still remains vulnerable to more severe infection and the emergence of new variants with increased levels of transmissibility, immune escape and/or virulence remains a risk both nationally and globally. For these reasons, it is advised that there should be a continuation of the wearing of masks, practising of physical distancing and avoidance of crowded environments based on individual risk assessment and with a continuing focus on protecting others, and adherence to basic hand and respiratory hygiene.
Updated Covid-19 Guidance to Schools following the mid-term break 2022 was published by the Department of Education and is available on that Department's website as follows:- www.gov.ie/en/publication/e1754-information-note-sd-00032022-updated-covid-19-guidance-to-schools-following-the-mid-term-break-2022/.
The approach to public health management of the pandemic, including changes to testing, tracing and surveillance management remains under continuing review under the guidance of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer and will be subject to the evolving epidemiological situation, the impact of the disease on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) guidance and other international evidence and guidance.
