Publication
When to wear face coverings and how to make them
From Department of Health
Published on
Last updated on
Wearing a cloth face covering not only helps protect you, but also prevents people who do not know they have COVID-19 (Coronavirus) from spreading it to others.
If you wear one, you should still do the important things necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.
These include:
- washing your hands properly and often
- covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze
- not touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
- physical distancing (keeping at least 2 metres away from other people)
A face covering is a covering of any type which covers your nose and mouth with no visible gaps. Face shields and visors are generally not an appropriate type of face covering but people who might have difficulties breathing or a disability or another specific reasonable excuse may wear a face shield or visor instead of a face covering.
Wearing a cloth face covering in public may reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. It may help to reduce the spread of respiratory droplets from people infected with COVID-19.
Cloth face coverings may help to stop people who are not aware they have the virus from spreading it.
If you have COVID-19 or have symptoms of the virus, you must self-isolate. Do this even if you wear a face covering.
Face coverings must be worn in the following locations:
- shops, including pharmacies
- supermarkets
- shopping centres
- banks, credit unions and post offices
- libraries
- cinemas and cinema complexes
- theatres
- concert halls
- bingo halls
- museums
- nail salons
- hair salons and barbers
- tattoo and piercing parlours
- travel agents and tour operators
- laundries and dry cleaners
- betting shops and bookmakers
- on public transport
- staff in customer facing roles in bars, restaurants and cafés
- in taxis (drivers and passengers)
- bus stations and rail stations
Wearing of face coverings is also recommended in the following circumstances:
- by people visiting the homes of those who are over 70 years of age or who are medically vulnerable
- by people who are being visited in their homes by those who are over 70 years of age or who are medically vulnerable
- if you are travelling in a vehicle with someone you don't live with
- crowded workplaces
- places of worship
- busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation
- in circumstances where 2 metres distance can’t be maintained
The vast majority of people are already wearing face coverings in shops. Shop owners and managers of premises should engage with people entering or in their premises to inform them that they need to wear face coverings and should promote compliance.
To date the Gardaí have adopted an approach of engaging with the public to educate and encourage people to abide by the measures in place and to only use enforcement as a last resort.
It is an offence for a person not to wear a face covering without reasonable excuse in respect of which a Garda may issue a fixed penalty notice of €80.
The vast majority of the public are complying and the expectation is that they will continue to do so and that penalties would only arise in very rare cases.
Posters on use of face coverings are available in English and Irish and can be downloaded here.
Face coverings are made from cloth materials such as cotton, silk, or linen.
You can buy them or make them at home using items such as scarfs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels.
Face coverings are not recommended for anyone who:
- has trouble breathing
- is unconscious or incapacitated
- is unable to remove it without help
- has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing them
- needs to communicate with someone who has learning difficulties, is hard of hearing or deaf
In these cases, if the person can wear a visor, it will give them some protection. But these are the only times when you should wear a visor. Cloth face coverings are a better way to protect yourself from COVID-19.
To make a cloth face covering at home:
- cut two rectangles of tightly-woven cotton about 25cm x 15cm
- fold and stitch the top and bottom edges
- fold and stitch the side edges, leaving a gap big enough to thread elastic through
- thread two 15cm lengths of elastic through the side edges and tie tight. Hair ties or string, cut longer and tied behind the head, will work
- tuck elastic knots inside the edges of the mask and stitch in place for a neater finish
You should throw out a cloth face covering when it:
- no longer covers the nose and mouth
- has stretched out or has damaged ties or straps
- cannot stay on the face
- has holes or tears in the fabric
Do:
- clean your hands properly before you put it on
- practise using it so you are comfortable putting it on and taking it off
- make sure it is made from a fabric you are comfortable wearing
- cover your mouth and nose with it and make sure there are no gaps between your cloth face covering
- tie it securely
- carry unused masks in a sealable clean waterproof bag (for example, a ziplock bag)
- carry a second similar type bag to put used masks in
Don't:
- touch a mask or face covering while wearing it - if you do, clean your hands properly
- use a damp or wet medical mask or reuse a medical mask
- share masks
- lower your mask to speak, eat and smoke or vape - if you need to uncover your nose or mouth, take the mask off and put it in the bag for used masks
- discard masks in public places
To take it off properly:
- remove it from behind - do not touch the front of the mask
- do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
- clean your hands properly
- put disposable masks in a bin straight away
A medical grade mask, also known as a surgical mask, is a three-layered, disposable mask. The masks are typically blue coloured, labelled as ‘medical’ and carry a CE marking. They are different from cloth masks which do not have a CE marking, and are less effective than medical grade masks.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommend that medical grade masks are used by:
- vulnerable people in indoor or crowded outdoor places
- over 70s in indoor or crowded outdoor places
- people with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis
- people who have symptoms of COVID-19
- close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19
