Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has published a winter Covid plan with some worrying restrictions updates as cases of the virus continue to rise.
In the report titled the Strategic Approach for the Management of COVID-19 Preparedness for Autumn/Winter 2022/2023, Chief Medical Officer Professor Breda Smyth said variants of Covid will continue to emerge.
She said: "There remains a risk that some novel variants will possess properties that confer increased transmissibility, reduced susceptibility to available vaccines, resistance to therapeutics, or altered disease severity.
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"As such, continued vigilance as to the potential impacts of COVID-19 will remain a core priority."
She added: "It is anticipated that COVID-19 will place a significant additional burden over the coming autumn/winter 2022/2023 period on these services (the health system).
"As such, it will be important that the HSE's winter planning activities have due regard for COVID-19 within the context of the expected seasonal impacts from other respiratory viruses."
The report also stated that "preliminary preparations for drafting of contingency legislation for the potential reintroduction of public health measures in certain circumstance are underway".
The report also recommended all people continue to wear masks on public transport and in healthcare settings.
It also said if needed, mask mandates would be reintroduced "to achieve the identified legitimate public health goal(s) and will be of limited duration."
It stated: "Mask wearing is also advised based on individual risk assessment.
"Anyone who wishes to wear a mask should not be discouraged from doing so.
"Individuals who are vulnerable to COVID-19 are further advised to be aware of the risk associated with activities they may choose to engage in and to take measures to optimally protect themselves.
"Vulnerable individuals are advised to consider wearing masks in crowded indoor settings. The use of FFP2 masks is also an option for vulnerable individuals, their healthcare provider will be best placed to discuss what might be most appropriate for their particular case.
"If required, the introduction of mask mandates in certain settings (e.g. transport and healthcare) will involve a point-in-time assessment of a constellation of indicators with due consideration of the personal, ethical and public health perspectives.
"Any such mandate will be pursued in a proportionate manner, will be the least intrusive measure to achieve the identified legitimate public health goal(s) and will be of limited duration. "
Elsewhere, based on the revised public health advice, Covid testing will no longer be recommended for the general population who are well or with mild illness.
Instead, testing will occur based on a clinical assessment where a clinician requires the result to contribute to the diagnosis and management of an individual patient or when deemed necessary by Public Health in relation to the management of an outbreak or specific public health risk.
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