All healthcare workers now have to wear facemasks when providing close care to patients.
It applies to nurses, doctors and healthcare assistants in both public and private settings. The new rules mean any healthcare worker, be it in a hospital or nursing home, has to wear a facemask if they are providing close care to a patient. It also applies to any worker in a healthcare setting who may be near a patient for more than 15 minutes.
It comes as the Chair of the Coronavirus Expert Advisory Group, Cillian de Casgun says new research shows up to half of us could have been infected with the virus with no or mild symptoms.
Tony Fitzpatrick from the INMO said it’s something that they have been advocating for:
"We believe this will protect, not only the staff working within the services, but also it will protect the patients as well".
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation says the use of face masks is up to each individual government.
