Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
334. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the groups of persons who are exempted from quarantining after arriving into Ireland; the arrangements to ensure that these groups do not import the virus into the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10932/21]
View answerThe Government has taken decisive steps to limit the importation of variants of concern. A regime of mandatory home quarantine is currently in operation. Arriving passengers are required to present a COVID-19 passenger locator form and evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel. Visa free travel from South America countries has been suspended.
SI No. 44/2021 sets out categories of travellers who are not subject to the quarantine requirement. These include international transport workers including aviation and maritime crew, members of An Garda Síochána or the Defence Forces who travel in the course of their duties and persons who are travelling for unavoidable and time sensitive medical reasons.
SI No. 44/2021 sets out certain categories of passengers who have travelled with an essential function and who do not have to quarantine while engaged in that function. These categories include journalists, workers conducting repair or maintenance to critical infrastructure and staff of international organisations.
Arrivals from Category 2 countries are advised to contact a GP to arrange a free PCR test 5 days after arrival. Positive cases identified through these tests are sent to the NVRL for genomic sequencing in order to identify the presence of variants of concern in Ireland.
Work is at an advanced stage to provide for quarantine of arrivals from category 2 countries at designated quarantine facilities.
