LAST UPDATE | 27 Nov 2020

PEOPLE WILL NOW be asked to wear face masks or coverings on “busy streets” and in other settings under new guidance from the government.

In an address to the nation this evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the government’s guidance on mask-wearing has had “an incredibly positive impact” and was being expanded. 

“The government is also updating its guidance on masks. In July, we introduced guidance on wearing masks indoors. And this has had an incredibly positive impact,” he said.

We’re now adding to that guidance and, from 1 December, people will be asked to also wear their masks outdoors on busy streets, within crowded indoor workplaces and in places of worship. 

The move means that masks will be recommended in the above cited places but is different to the legal requirement that people wear makes on public transport and in shops where a failure to do so can result in fines.  

“We don’t envisage going down that route, that’s not what we’re at here,” the Taoiseach said when asked about this distinction.  “I think people have responded magnificently in terms of shops and public transport.”

Asked what constitutes a ‘busy street’, the Taoiseach said:

“I think we know what a busy street is and we know what a crowded street is and I think we need to be practical and use our common sense here. Henry Street or Grafton Street or Patrick Street, you name all the busy streets in the run up to Christmas they’re going to be busy and in many wears they’ll be the equivalent of the shopping mall or the shopping centre, so we’re asking people to wear the masks as an extra precaution on those streets and also in crowded working places as well.”