Mask-wearing may continue for 'quite some time' as other restrictions ease - Donnelly

The Health Minister says COVID-19 measures such as mask-wearing may continue “for quite some time” even as other restrictions ease. Stephen Donnelly says ministers will also likely consider the prospect of reopening live events for vaccinated people. He was speaking as NPHET meets today to consider the advice it will give to the Government on the further easing of restrictions. The Cabinet sub-committee will then meet on Friday, ahead of a full Cabinet meeting next Tuesday. Ministers are set to sign off on a reopening ‘roadmap’ early next week. There has been a particular focus recently on the return of live events, with the sector remaining almost entirely closed. Yesterday, Electric Picnic organisers urged Laois County Council to reverse course and grant the festival a licence for next month. It comes after the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said NPHET would have no major concern about large outdoor concerts going ahead if they were for vaccinated people only. On Newstalk Breakfast, Minister Donnelly said he wasn't surprised by Dr Holohan's comments - saying the CMO gave a "direct and open" answer to a direct question. The minister said: “I certainly would strongly support the view that groups of vaccinated people are in a much better place in terms of COVID than unvaccinated people.” He noted there was "a lot” of political opposition to vaccine passes for indoor dining, but argued that the system has been working very well so far. He suggested the return of live concerts for vaccinated people "certainly is something Cabinet can look at and consider". However, he noted there are already mechanisms in place for reopening, such as pilot events of "increasing numbers" - something which has already been seen in the sports sector. He added: “There are options - options I think the sector would be quite excited by - around fully vaccinated people.” He said the live events sector has had a "brutal time", and the Government needs to do what they can to reopen "safely and sustainably".