National: Masks likely to become mandatory once again in hospitals

MASKS are likely to become mandatory once again in Emergency Departments (ED) around the country.

This is according to the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry, masks may be compulsory again for those going in and out of ED.

Speaking on Morning Ireland this Friday, a “very steep” rise in influenza and Covid-19 cases in hospitals is to blame, with the HSE reporting more than 800 people attending ED’s around the country this week were diagnosed with Covid or flu.

When asked if we are witnessing the start of a “viral storm hitting our hospitals”, Dr Henry said: “We always expected to see a rise and what we are seeing now is a steep incline in the number of cases of influenza and Covid-19 presented to our ED’s. 

“The latter is driven largely by a subvariant Jn.1, which is considerably more transmissible than the previous Covid-19 variant.” 

Saying that he expects to see a “considerable rise in people becoming sick”, Dr Henry continued by saying that the HSE expects around 3,000 or more people to present to hospital for influenza alone in the new year. 

“Masks have never left, despite having removed the mandatory protocol in March this year, they have always been advised and recommended. We expect to reintroduce, and in some cases, have already reintroduced masks in higher risk settings and ED’s.”