Why are we still waiting on healthcare mask mandates to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections?

 My article in todays' Indo. Huge thanks to my incredible editor, Tom Coogan. A dolphin in a sea of sharks😇🌟

https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/tess-finch-lees-why-are-we-still-waiting-on-a-healthcare-mask-mandate-to-deal-with-covid-over-to-you-minister/a144055388.html

Excerpts

"In Ireland, despite last year being the worst on record for hospital overcrowding and the resultant chaos that goes with that, the HSE’s chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry invoked infection prevention control (IPC) guidance, which put the burden of risk assessments on to individual healthcare settings. The same IPC guidance, the UK’s Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association have said, is now inconsistent with the WHO’s guidance on universal masking in healthcare.

Sars-CoV-2 transmission remains a global threat which requires decisive preventative action by governments at a national level. The HSE’s clinical lead in emergency medicine, Dr Gerry McCarthy, said recently that masks should be made mandatory in healthcare settings to curb the rise in Covid cases. The duty of care lies with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to act now"

"....Sars-CoV-2 is a level 3 biohazard which requires respiratory protective equipment for lab workers. Yet, since the removal of universal masking, healthcare workers elsewhere in hospitals are inhaling (becoming infected) and exhaling (infecting others) with the same biohazard, with no protection whatsoever. This surely contravenes the EC directive on the protection of workers from risks of exposure to biological agents....."

"Writing in the Los Angeles Times last week, renowned scientist Professor Eric Topol described the global response to the pandemic as “make believe”. He said: “There’s no getting over the pandemic until we recognise reality and double down on research that will allow us to block infections and achieve lasting, variant-proof immunity.”

In the meantime, we must use the tools that we have at our disposal. Starting with the immediate implementation of WHO guidance and mandating universal masking (ffp2/3) in healthcare".

Within the next few days I'll be publishing - here - the detailed letter I sent to my health insurer putting them on notice (backed by science/evidence that a) I do not consent to myself or my family being infected with a preventable level 3 biohazard whilst accessing facilities procured by them & b) we require a list of covid aware/safe healthcare practitioners & facilities. I will be sending it to my local hospital boards also. Sources included. Watch this space👍