An infectious diseases expert has warned the public to continue wearing masks in some settings despite the easing of restrictions.
Professor Jack Lambert said people seem to have forgotten how contagious the virus is, and that by not wearing masks in certain settings you could be spreading it.
Irish hospitals have been coming under increasing pressure in recent weeks as more and more people are seeking treatment related to Covid.
The number of people with the virus that are hospitalised has been on the rise, and today is at 1,042 - marking a jump from 957 on Sunday.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Prof. Lambert said, “Whether it is mandatory or not, I think there should be a message from our Government, that people should continue to do the right thing.”
The UCD professor noted particular settings where it remains important to wear face coverings and said, “I just think we need to collectively continue to wear masks on public transportation, in shops and in all these kinds of places.
“That is gone by the wayside. I don’t think people seem to realise the contagiousness of this virus and the fact that it is serious for certain populations.”
Dr Lambert said while Covid has developed into “a different virus” than what it was back in 2020, it is still a “serious virus.”
“Covid is no longer the threat it once was; however, it is still making people sick and affecting hospital capacity,” he said.
“I continue to use all the Covid prevention strategies,” he said.
“The message I don’t think the Irish public are getting is, this is a serious virus – it is not a killer but it’s still a serious virus.
“The message is that we should be continuing to wear masks. We should continue to hand wash.”
