A consultant doctor on the State's Covid-19 Expert Advisory Group (EAG) has said that the two-metre distancing guideline is "paralysing the country" and that students are being "unfairly compromised" by the continued closure of schools.
In an email seen by Prime Time, the medical consultant also suggested that the EAG work to convince the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to reduce the recommended distancing to one-metre.
The doctor wrote "...could we try to scientifically convince NPHET that 1m is acceptable with hand hygiene, masks, reduced close contact time etc to allow business & schools to reopen?" The email was circulated on 20 May to members of the EAG.