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Government Is Expected To Officially End Mandatory Wearing Of Facemasks Next Week

File image: Rolling News

KFM spoke to a number of stakeholders to get their views.

The government is expected to officially sign off on advice early next week to end the mandatory wearing of Facemasks.

It follows a recommendation from NPHET that the wearing of masks in shops, public transport and schools should end.

It has also recommended a scaling back of the testing system and for NPHET itself to be significantly scaled back.

Managing Director of Retail Excellence, Duncan Graham commented : "As far as we are concerned this is just another step.

"The message from the public health is that it's ok to remove the masks.

"But what's right for one person won't be right for another.

"We'll all need a bit of give and take," he said.

Professor of Health Systems, School of Nursing, Psychotheraphy and Community Health at Dublin City University, Anthony Staines commeneted:

"There are people around in substantial numbers who are at risk of serious illness.

"We have now moved into a situation where we are living with covid.

"Part of living with an infectious disease is to do the simple and cheap things.

"Vaccination doesn't hugely reduce your risk of getting infected.

" But it does reduce the risk of long term bad outcomes.

"The concern we have is that something else will come bouncing back.

"There could be a new variant," he said.

Assistant General Secretary, Mandate, Jonathan Hogan commented: "It seems to us that NPHET are moving too quick on this.

"It will cause conflict if it's left up to people to either wear it or not wear it.

"Government will have to be difinite and call for the masks to remain in place.

"We are calling on the Government to listen to us, we believe it's doomed for conflict," he added.

They spoke with Clem Ryan on Friday morning's Kildare Today:

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