INMO urges caution on easing of mask-wearing requirement

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called on the government to urge caution when it comes to the removal of the mask-wearing requirement outside of healthcare settings.

INMO general secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said: “We are urging government to take serious caution when it comes to implementing this advice and take on board the current ability of the public health system to cope with additional pressure that the removal of the mask requirement may have on the health system.

“There is a clear link between reduced transmission and mask wearing.

“Removing the mask requirement in congregated settings, particularly with poor ventilation, such as public transport, could have a detrimental impact.

“Our hospitals are under severe pressure. As of this morning, 15,705 patients have been without a bed in our hospitals so far this year.

“Our nurses and midwives have been dealing with overcrowding coupled with Covid transmission, and are burnt out and exhausted.

“We can’t have a case of increased Covid transmission within hospitals at this juncture.

“The pandemic is far from over for nurses and midwives. The government need to exercise caution when it comes to easing mask requirements. Until government makes headway into dealing with the trolley crisis, the mask mandate should remain in place.”