The Taoiseach says the Government will NOT be introducing a mask mandate in the near future.
Earlier this week the Chief Medical Officer warned that Ireland was "in the eye of a respiratory virus storm".
However he said that Government is encouraging people to wear face masks in crowded settings, particularly on public transport.
Leo Varadkar also appealed to people with respiratory symptoms to remain at home and for people to avail of flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
"As things stand we don't have any proposals to reintroduce mask mandates but we are encouraging people to use masks in crowded setting, particularly for example in public transport and very much saying to people that,. i foyu have respiratory symptoms, you should stay at home until they're resolved, and really encouraging people to, if they haven't done so already, to take the vaccine, whether that's the flu vaccine or the COVID vaccine. They do work"
