He said that the evidence “isn’t very strong” about their use, stressing that handwashing and social distancing were more important. “This is an additional hygiene measure, it’s not a magic bullet for this disease, and that has to be understood.
The Taoiseach said he expected to get reports of rules being broken in shops and businesses when the restrictions are eased next week. He stressed that while construction sites could reopen, indoor building work such as home renovations would not be permitted. “It wouldn’t be possible for people to get their kitchen redone or something like that,” he said. “That would be at a later stage.”Mr Varadkar admitted there was some fear in Government that the easing of the lockdown would prompt people to ignore the need for continued social distancing and other measures to combat the spread of the virus.
Mr Varadkar spoke to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to inform them of the moves, and also telephoned the British prime minister Boris Johnson on Friday.