Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
335. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the details of his response to the arrival of the Brazil P1 variant of Covid-19 into Ireland which was announced on 19 February 2021; the steps he is taking to minimise the spread of this variant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10933/21]
View answer336. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the three cases of the Brazil P1 variant identified in Ireland are directly associated with recent travel from Brazil; the steps he is taking to prevent further importation of this variant and others through travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10935/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together.
The 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. Passengers who do not have a pre-departure test are required to take one on arrival or will be committing an additional offence. Exemptions from these requirements are strictly limited. In addition, visa free travel from South America countries has been suspended.
An Garda Síochána will enforce the mandatory home quarantine regime and it is a prosecutable offence to fail to observe home quarantine. All travellers deemed exempt from quarantine are expected to comply with public health guidelines while outside their place of residence.
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.
In addition, I have asked the HSE to respond you directly on the further points raised.
