[@newschambers] CMO Tony Holohan says close contacts will need to wear high grade masks.

17 comments

1. At what point does the Government step in to provide free / heavily subsidised FFP2 masks and antigen tests? Do other countries do so?

   I accept antigen tests can be acquired for free via the HSE, but there is a lead time to get it (i.e., it needs to be posted to you) and you need internet access / some degree of knowledge of how to order them which cannot be assumed.

   FFP2 masks are not cheap, and these comments will likely drive up demand. The best price I was able to find was €12.50 (ex VAT, ex delivery) for a box of 20. The supplier is now on backorder till the end of January last I checked.

   Measc (an Irish company) is selling 30 for €45 (ex delivery) – €1.50 each, plus antigen test that go from anywhere from €2.50 up to €8, we’re now into the region of €10. A mask should be changed frequently (daily), and AFAIK you should test daily on antigen tests. So now we’re talking €70 for a week for *one* person.

   It might not sound like a lot but all these costs add up and hit bottom lines for some families who are already stretched.

   **EDIT:** Whilst I was typing that spiel out, Richard Chambers added another tweet to his chain: [https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1481325648903823362](https://twitter.com/newschambers/status/1481325648903823362)

   *Asked Tony Holohan about concerns about cost to public of high grade masks and antigens.*

   *He says HSE portal will provide these to people for themselves and close contacts once the register a positive test.*

2. Does he now

3. Oh fancy masks I see. How about I raise you Banes mask…and I’m not talking movie style – full lucha mask, bitch.

4. Lots of use of the word ‘must’ from him. He wasn’t as forceful with gov apparently

5. Next week Tony will be requiring close contacts to bring him a shrubbery and to cut down the tallest tree in the forest with a herring.

6. Antigens only make sense when PCR testing fails

7. I’ll stick with rotating my reusable ones, unless they want to provide them for free.

8. [deleted]

9. My antigen was negative for 7 days when I became a close contact. 29th December I became a close contact. Developed symptoms Jan 1st and still was negative until Jan 4th.

10. I’ve been wearing them for months

11. Tony can fuck off with himself

12. [deleted]

13. What a load of arbitrary fucking nonsense.

14. About 14 months behind the curve, not exactly world beating public health expertise.

15. … because the normal masks dont actually do a whole lot. Its mostly pageantry. If they were so great why are the high grade ones necessary? Oh cause people wear them wrong eh get real

16. This is the mildest version yet we need better and more expensive masks.
    I wonder who the supplier is.
    Fuck off

17. “Sure it will be grand”