Gardai have said they have had to use anti-spit guards on 47 occasions so far.
In an update of An Garda Síochána’s policing of the Covid-19 health regulations, they have reported that out of hundreds of thousands of interactions, compliance among the public has been at ‘a high level’, and that they have had to invoke the regulations 192 times.
Some of these incidents are before the courts, but in all cases members of An Garda Síochána consulted with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the decision to charge.
64 incidents of spitting or coughing at members of the force were recorded and anti-spit guards had to be used 47 times.
1,432 other types of offences such as drink-driving, public order and those involving drugs and weapons were also recorded in the course of Covid-19 operations.
The figures were compiled from 8 April, which was when the regulations came into effect, until 9 May inclusive.
