NOW YOU HAVE TO WEAR A MASK

Face coverings on public transport to be compulsory... as air travel rules to ease

FACE masks are to be made compulsory on public transport.

All commuters on Irish Rail, Bus Éireann, Luas, Dart and city buses will be expected to cover their faces.

The move comes as Ireland agreed to begin easing air travel restrictions from the second week of next month.

However, the mask rule on public transport will not cover children under 13 years of age, those with breathing difficulties or people with disabilities.

The much-criticised two-metre social distancing rule on public transport will be removed with companies allowed to operate at half their normal capacity.

The issue was discussed at a

Cabinet sub-committee meeting yesterday. It is expected that the mask rule will come into effect in the next week or two, but an exact date has not yet been set.

The final details are expected to be worked out by ministers today when Minister for Transport Shane Ross brings a memo on the rule to Cabinet.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar signalled last Friday week that the Government was looking at the possibility of making face masks ‘a condition of travel on public transport’.

Uptake of face coverings on public transport and in other confined spaces such as shops has been very low. The Government was previously criticised for poor messaging on the issue, and Health Minister Simon Harris admitted this month in the Dáil that the messaging had been ‘confused’.

Transport operators and unions of transport staff had already urged those using their services to wear face coverings.

Labour TD and member of the Covid-19 Response Committee Duncan Smith said: ‘I welcome the news that the Government are finally making the wearing of face masks compulsory on public transport. Face masks are an essential weapon in this battle against Covid-19. Transport unions and indeed users of public transport have been calling for this since the middle of April.

‘It is not just enough to issue a directive to the public – we need a clear, concise advertising campaign educating citizens on the proper usage of face masks.’

He said masks should now be provided at train and bus stations, health care settings, work places and in our secondary schools and colleges. He said a public awareness campaign is now needed on masks.

In England, the use of face coverings is compulsory on public transport from today, under a new rule introduced by the British government. Commuters who do not comply will be refused access onboard buses and trains or they could face a fine of £100.

Meanwhile, there have been six more Covid-19 related deaths confirmed by the Department of Health, bringing the total death toll here to 1,726. Five additional cases were also reported yesterday. There are now a total of 25,396 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

It emerged yesterday that the Government has agreed to begin easing air travel restrictions from the second week of July.

Ireland will establish so called ‘air bridges’ with other EU States where there has been similar or better success in controlling the virus. This will mean EU citizens from approved countries will not be forced to quarantine for a fortnight after arriving in Ireland. Irish travellers will be permitted to fly unrestricted to countries designated safe for travel.