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31st August 2021
08:46am BST

A spokesperson for the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said yesterday that they had been approached by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to look into the evidence on the minimum age for face coverings.
According to The Irish Independent, a spokesperson said Hiqa's review will "provide advice on whether the current minimum age should be reduced."
They added: "We will shortly publish a protocol outlining what information will be considered. We anticipate publishing this advice in September."
Hiqa said in March that the age should be unchanged while the Department of Education said that they have always been guided by public health advice.
The advice currently remains the same, with the Department following suit.
Children will now be returning to indoor activities as restrictions lift and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has urged those participating to be cautious.
He said these "have proven to be settings where outbreaks and transmission in children have occurred in the past" and that being cautious in these situations "will help to prevent further transmission and potential outbreaks."
He added: "Considerable preparations have been made to reopen schools safely.
"Our data clearly shows that, to date, the school environment was not a major source of disease transmission.
"In order to go back to school as safely as possible, my advice to children is to wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly and follow the protocols operating in your school."Explore more on these topics: