A West Clare principal believes mandatory mask wearing in schools should be lifted at a slower pace.
Masks will no longer be mandatory in the classroom, in retail settings or on public transport if the government signs off on NPHET’s advice next Tuesday.
The government is expected to officially sign off on advice early next week to end the mandatory wearing of facemasks.
Health officials have also recommended the testing system be scaled back and NPHET itself be stood down, and replaced with a smaller monitoring group.
However, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says the need for solid public health advice from NPHET hasn’t disappeared.
The prospect of mandatory mask wearing being lifted in schools is being cautiously welcomed in this county.
While both primary and secondary teachers say they believe communication with students will improve once mask wearing is lifted, there are concerns about continued high case numbers of COVID-19 in the community.
Aidan Looney, who’s Principal at St Joseph’s National School, Miltown Malbay, says while the time has come to change the rules, he believes a slower change is needed.
Meanwhile, the Ennis-based Deputy Chair of Retail Excellence says they’re looking forward to the prospect of the interactive element returning to in person shopping.
Jean McCabe, of Willow Boutique on O Connell Street in the county town, says the prospect of maskless shoppers is very much welcome for retailers.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee is to meet on Monday, with the full Cabinet expected to sign off on the removing of mandatory facemasks from the end of the month on Tuesday.
