Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
343. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the number of checks that have occurred in each week from 1 February 2021 to date on persons quarantining at home after arriving into Ireland; the number in each case of SMS, telephone, and Garda checks; and the number of persons who were compliant and non-compliant in tabular form. [10942/21]
View answerAll passengers arriving to the State are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator form, there are limited exemptions from this requirement for international transport workers, diplomats and children under 16. The form is used to support a system of engagements with arriving passengers including the targeting of public health messaging by SMS and email and may be used for contact tracing.
Passengers who completed a Passenger Locator Form and do not claim an exemption are followed up and contacted by SMS to confirm their address. Where a person has not responded to the address verification text, they will be called to verify their place of address. If they are not available at the first call, further attempts will be made to contact each passenger who is in scope for follow up calls. Between the 1st and 14th of February inclusive, 82% of passengers requested to do so confirmed their place of residence.
S.I. 44 of 2021 requires travellers arriving to Ireland from overseas to observe a 14-day mandatory home quarantine in the address given on their COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. Travellers may take a second PCR test no less than 5 days after arrival and a ‘not detected’ test result can end the quarantine period. Arrivals from Category 2 countries must complete the full 14 days of quarantine - regardless of test results during the period.
Passengers are issued with public health information and reminders of the requirement to quarantine via SMS during the 14-day period.
My Department is liaising with An Garda Síochána on adherence to home quarantine requirements.
