A number of the remaining restrictions brought in to ease the spread of Covid-19 have been stood down today, including mask mandates in most settings.
For the first time in nearly two years since the outbreak of Covid-19 here in Ireland, masks are no longer required in the likes of shops and schools.
They are, however, still recommended in healthcare settings and on public transport.
In a tweet retweeted by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan and Deputy CMO Dr Ronan Glynn, the Department of Health said that their public health advice has changed.
“You should consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings, particularly on public transport,” the post on Twitter said.
“Continue to practise good hand and respiratory hygiene by washing and sanitising your hands regularly, and coughing/sneezing into your elbow.
“Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate immediately.”
On the Department of Health website, they said: “Covid-19 is still with us and there are critical components which still require our collective response.”
Among these components was getting your primary and booster vaccines and isolating if you are symptomatic or if you get a positive antigen or PCR test.
As well as that, managing risk for yourself and those more vulnerable was mentioned, with the statement saying, “You can do this by wearing masks, physical distancing and avoiding crowds as well as maintaining basic hand and respiratory hygiene.”
In relation to what to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19, the Department of Health recommends self-isolating and getting a PCR test if you are aged 55 or older and have not gotten a booster jab, if you have a high-risk medical condition, if you are immunocompromised or are caring for someone who is or if you are pregnant.
Everyone else should “self-isolate until 48 hours after symptoms resolve” and no test is required.
Similarly, if you are a close contact, no test is required if you do not have symptoms. If they develop, start to self-isolate from then.
Healthcare workers who are identified as a household close contact will have to undertake repeat antigen testing unless they have had Covid in the last 3 months.
