Statement from the Minister for Health and the Minister for Foreign Affairs

Statement

Under current policy, the Government advises against all non-essential international travel. All passengers arriving in Ireland must complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form and provide evidence that they have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a COVID-19 PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival into Ireland or have evidence that they are exempt from this legal requirement.

People who are travelling from or via a state/territory designated under the recently enacted public health legislation must also pre-book and pre-pay for a place in a designated facility for mandatory hotel quarantine.

All other travellers, who arrive in Ireland from non-designated states/territories, are required to quarantine at home for 14 days; however, if they take a further PCR test on day 5 post arrival in Ireland and if this is reported as ‘not detected’ they can end their period of quarantine.

Minister Donnelly has today considered advice from the Acting CMO to add further states/territories to the “designated States/Territories” list. This evening the Minister is adding a further number of states/territories following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The list of additional States/Territories is set out below. Travellers from these states/territories will have to book accommodation for mandatory hotel quarantine if they intend to arrive in Ireland after 4 am on Tuesday, 6 April.

Advice from the Acting CMO also includes advice with regard to a number of other states/territories. Decisions in relation to these additional states/territories will be considered in advance of the next Government meeting. Ongoing considerations will also address various issues including the operational capacity that may be required to accommodate additional travellers and issues related to the Common Travel Area and the need to consult with our EU partners. Further consideration will also be given to ways in which measures pertaining to those travelling from non-designated states/territories might be further strengthened.

The Ministers underlined the Government’s commitment to protect public health as a matter of urgency, including in relation to variants of concern, and having regard to our international obligations.

ENDS

PRESS OFFICE

1 APRIL 2021

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