A top Irish virologist has said that a return of masks in public places won't do all that much to stop the current Covid wave.
UCC's Professor Liam Fanning told RTE's Prime Time that he wouldn't be recommending the return of masks, despite admitting the pandemic is here "for the foreseeable".
When host Miriam O'Callaghan asked "should we go back to mask-wearing in public places?" Prof Fanning said: "No I don't think we should go back to mask wearing in public places for a couple of reasons.
READ MORE: Minister Stephen Donnelly sounds Covid alarm as 'figures are quite stark' in Ireland
"Masks have been put forward almost as if it's a shield against Covid-19, first of all not all masks are created equally and if you don't wear the mask appropriately it's actually quite ineffective.
"The second thing is we're dealing with a virus now, Omicron BA.5 and 4 which is much more transmissible because of the amount of virus that is transmitted by these infected individuals is very large. And these incomplete shields leave people open to infection.
"That's not to say masks don't give some degree of protection, they do, particularly the FFP2 masks."
He went on to add masks don't give an "absolute shield" and the virus has "taken advantage of some loopholes in our immunity".
The expert added that the pandemic is "certainly with us for the foreseeable future".
It comes as Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the State’s vaccine advisory body are considering whether people aged under 65 should get a second Covid booster vaccine.
Just yesterday Health Minister Stephen Donnelly expressed concern about the surge in Covid cases.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Mr Martin confirmed the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) is giving consideration to whether the wider population should be eligible for a second booster vaccine.
He said “the most important point now would be that NIAC have already indicated that over 65 year olds and those who are immunosuppressed should have their second booster and I would appeal to people in that age category and in that category more generally to take up the booster.”
He said there has been a low uptake in both groups.
Mr Martin said NIAC will come back to the Government on whether it will “widen the participation” for different age cohorts and advise those aged under 65 should get a second booster jab.
