Schoolchildren could see the end of the requirement to wear face masks in class as early as next week if the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) gives the go-ahead when it meets on Thursday.
The Government and its public health advisers have indicated that the remaining Covid restrictions, including the requirement to wear masks in schools, would be reviewed before the end of February.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said last week that the Government will consider Nphet advice on the wearing of face masks for the rest of the population more generally and make a decision accordingly. He said it would be his preference, however, that people continue to wear masks in retail settings and on public transport in the immediate future.
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Government sources said on Monday night that Ministers were likely to move quickly on any Nphet recommendation to end the requirement for children to wear masks in school. Older children have been wearing masks in class since September 2020, while the requirement for primary schoolchildren aged over nine was introduced last December.
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Sources stressed that the Government decision would depend on Nphet advice but there is a clear preference emerging among senior Government figures to end the rule on masks, as the pandemic recedes and society returns to normal. Covid case numbers have fallen sharply since the Omicron wave peaked in mid-January, while the numbers in hospital and intensive care units have also declined steadily.
On Monday there were 665 people in hospital with Covid and 67 patients in intensive care units.
The Department of Health on Monday reported a total of 3,494 new PCR-confirmed cases.
New vaccination framework
On Sunday, February 13th, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) was notified of 4,331 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19. In addition, 3,609 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
On Saturday, February 12th, the HPSC was notified of 4,940 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 2,950 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
All remaining Covid-19 legal restrictions are to be lifted from Tuesday in Northern Ireland.
In Dublin it is expected the Government will hold a special meeting, likely to take place late next week, to map out a pandemic plan for the coming months.
Sources said that a more restrictive testing regime would be considered, which could see only the very sick tested for Covid-19.
This could mean that people who have mild symptoms of Covid-19 would not be tested for the virus. Ministers are also likely to discuss the rules around isolation, a source said. The Government is keen to put in place a new vaccination framework which could see Covid-19 treated much like the flu virus. Under this plan, most people would only be offered one vaccination appointment every year, potentially in the lead-up to the winter period.
