The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for the reintroduction of mask-wearing in crowded and indoor settings.
It comes as the Tánaiste has warned procedures may have to be curtailed as hospitals deal with a surge in Covid cases.
Earlier today the management of University Hospital Waterford issued an appeal to the public to stay away from the hospital where possible, unless in the case of a genuine emergency.
Tramore GP Austin Byrne told Déise Today people got rid of face coverings as if it was 'Spring Break' and that was never the intention.
"We were so indoctrinated into the mask mantra for two years and when it was no longer mandatory, it was like 'Spring Break' and we all said, "masks are done, they're gone, they're finished".
"It wasn't really supposed to happen like that and public health's intention at the time was only to remove the mandatory requirement to wear a mask," Dr Byrne said.
The GP from the Tramore Medical Clinic told Déise Today there's plenty of scientific and anecdotal evidence that wearing a mask does protect people from catching the virus.
"We know that masks help, and we know that for a fact.
"The public health advice remained that if you are out and about in public spaces you should do your best to wash your hands, keep your distance and wear a mask if you feel it's appropriate.
"I haven't contracted Covid and have been dealing with patients with the virus on a daily basis with the best part of two years," the Tramore GP said.
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation says Ireland is among a number of countries that lifted covid restrictions 'brutally'.
Combined with the transmissibility of the BA.2 Omicron variant, the easing of restrictions contributed to the rise in case numbers, according to the W-H-O.
The organisation's Regional Director Hans Kluge says 18 out of 53 countries in Europe have seen increasing case numbers in the past week.
"The countries where we've seen a particular increase are the UK, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy and Germany.
"Those countries are lifting the restrictions brutally from too much to too few, " the WHO Director said.
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