The Labour Party has called for mandatory mask wearing on public transport and in congregated settings for the months of January and February.
The party’s health spokesperson Duncan Smith said that there needs to be “stronger public health advice” from Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Breda Smyth and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
It comes amid a growing number of COVID-19, flu and RSV cases in Ireland.
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The growing cases are placing pressure on hospital systems, with 534 people waiting on trolleys on Tuesday morning.
This is up on Monday’s figures, when there were 489 people waiting for a hospital bed.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for tougher advice from the CMO on mask wearing.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “We are once again calling on the Chief Medical Officer to issue stronger public health advice in relation to mandated mask-wearing. “It is our view that it is the responsible thing for policymakers and Government to do at this vital juncture when hospitals are not coping and people’s lives are at a higher risk.”
Labour’s health spokesperson backed the calls, stating that he would support mandatory mask wearing in certain settings.
Deputy Smith said: “The advice is out there, but it is not being communicated strongly enough.
“We all need to improve on that. Mask wearing has slipped. We need to improve that on public transport in congregated settings.
“I think that's a very very small ask. I don't think it's a big imposition.”
“Maybe [it should be mandatory] on public transport and in congregated settings.
“I think that's what we need to look at at least for the months of January and February because the health service is in such a crisis.”
Mr Smith said that nurses are “burnt out”, with one telling him that she was in tears going into work.
He also said that the Government needs to increase the number of training places for nurses in colleges from September to ensure hospitals are not understaffed going forward.
This was echoed by Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson David Cullinane, who also said that Minister Donnelly’s winter plan had “failed”.
He also stated that the current situation in hospitals was “predictable”.
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