A Roscommon GP says she believes many people may choose to continue to wear masks in public places even with regulations lifted.
Speaking on the Let's Talks show this afternoon, Dr Madeline Ni Dhalaigh who practices in Castlerea says while they are still seeing people who test positive for Covid, the disease is mild in the vast majority of cases.
She says even though NPHET is recommending lifting the mandatory in many settings, a lot of people will still be cautious
"They (NPHET) will be watching the numbers and watching the flow and if there is an uptake of numbers and if people are becoming decidely unwell then they will change that policy again. That's what NPHET have done, they have moved with the numbers every time.
I would trust them to make the correct decison and give the correct advice.
I would also say that anyone who is vulnerable or anybody who is comfortable wearing a mask, absolutely continue wearing them."
NPHET has recommended an end to the wearing of facemasks in almost all settings and proposed the group be disbanded.
If accepted by Government, the requirement to wear masks in shops, schools and on public transport will end on February 28th.
In what could be its last meeting NPHET has recommended lifting the last Covid restrictions around mask wearing.
Health officials have proposed from February 28th there will be no requirement to wear a mask in schools, on public transport or in shops.
Public-facing staff in the likes of bars, restaurants and barbers also won't have to wear a mask.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is being briefed this evening on the recommendation.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is also proposing NPHET be disbanded.
He thanked members of the Emergency team for their efforts this morning and didn't set a date for another meeting.
It's proposed a smaller monitoring team will take over the day-to-day management of Covid-19.
There was also a proposal for the scaling back of testing and tracing.
Final details haven't been decided, but it may involve only the old and vulnerable having to go for a PCR test if symptomatic.
