Hospitals are coming under major pressure because of the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital beds. There were 1,395 such patients yesterday. That figure is up 29% in the past seven days. There are 55 patients ICU, up from 44 a week ago. Yesterday, 22,000 positive polymerase chain reaction, PCR, and antigen tests were registered. Anne O’Connor, chief operations officer with the HSE, has stated that 5,200 staff are absent due to Covid and that the number of teams available in hospitals is falling and that elective surgeries are being cancelled.

We need to look at the whole question of wearing masks again on travel on public transport, in retail shops, etc. We also need to consider a return to mandatory mask-wearing. There does not seem to be anybody directing the Government at the moment in the context of public health measures. I ask the Minister to seriously consider this suggestion. Many people in the Chamber should also consider wearing masks and respect others.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We are well aware of the impact that the increasing number of Covid cases is having on hospitals that were already extremely busy. We are also aware of the impact the virus is having on the health of many at the moment.

At all times in the Government's response to the huge challenge of the pandemic we were guided by public health advice. We were always informed by the input we received from public health experts. As Deputies know, the Government still reserved its right to make decisions based on a variety of factors. We have not received advice to change the guidance relating to the wearing of masks in the settings referred to by the Deputy, but were we to get that advice we would act on it. We will continue to be guided by the advice that comes from the public health experts on the wearing of masks.

Who is giving the Government the advice? Is it the Chief Medical Officer?