Covid-19 travel restrictions to stay put, ‘green list’ on hold

Publication of a ‘green list’ of safe countries to travel to has been put on hold 

It has been reported that a published ‘green list’ of countries to which it’s safe to travel will not happen next week, but will be delayed until at least July 20th.

It was suggested that this ‘green list’ (which was due to be published on July 9th) would outline countries and areas where Irish holidaymakers could travel to without having to undergo the 14-day quarantine restriction upon return to Ireland.  The restrictions will be reviewed fortnightly after that.

These include countries the government could possibly strike ‘air bridge’ deals with, depending on their rate of infection.

Quarantine measures will remain for countries not on the list, once it’s published and until the publication of this, the usual restrictions remain in place.

The Irish Times reports that a more cautious approach was in part due to the priority the government wished to give to schools, who plan to re-open in September amid new health and safety regulations.

Currently, people who arrive in Ireland from abroad – including people resident here – are asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Everyone who arrives here from another country must fill out a Covid-19 passenger locator form, and provide details on where they intend to self-isolate.

These restrictions are not mandatory however and all non-essential travel abroad is still recommended under official government guidelines.

Prior to his announcement that he would be stepping back from his duties for personal reasons, Chief Medical Officer  Dr. Tony Holohan advised against all non-essential travel over the coming weeks and months, and said it would ‘make much more sense’ for those with bookings abroad to cancel them.

Related: Thank You: Team IMAGE pays tribute to Dr Tony Holohan

“It makes much more sense to not go ahead with that booking and to risk travelling abroad, picking up this infection, risk for you, for any family member you be travelling with or indeed any close contacts you have,” he said. “I think that would be not just in your individual interest but in our collective interest.”

“We are starting to see a worrying trend, with the number of reported cases increasing, and some new clusters,” Dr Holohan said.

Main photograph: Unsplash

Read more: Life after lockdown: ‘Why things can’t ever be the same again’

Read more: ‘The worst is yet to come’: WHO issues stark warning as Ireland reopens after lockdown

Read more: ‘As a GP, this is what I will — and won’t — be doing during Phase 3’