Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
508. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way he plans to deal with the likelihood of the spread of the Covid-19 Indian variant from Britain to and across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29702/21]
View answerThe Government has introduced a range of measures to mitigate the risk of importing variants of concern including mandatory testing and quarantine requirements for passengers arriving from designated countries. Under the current measures, travellers arriving into Ireland from overseas (including from Great Britain) are required to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, to present evidence of a negative pre-departure RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival and to observe mandatory quarantine.
Travellers from non-designated countries, including Great Britain, must observe 14 days of Home Quarantine which can be shortened on receipt of a not-detected RT-PCR test result 5 days after arrival. Those who travel from Great Britain, who are not fully vaccinated are now requested to remain in quarantine and seek a further test at least 10 days after arrival in Ireland, in addition to the day 5 test. Day 5 tests can be booked in advance via an online portal, and Day 10 tests can be availed of at the HSE walk-in testing centres. An online portal for booking day 10 tests is currently in development by the HSE
Additional messaging to incoming travellers, particularly from Britain, is being put in place to emphasise the home quarantine requirement and to encourage uptake of the 5-day post arrival test. There is continued collaboration between all relevant State stakeholders to maintain and further strengthen measures aimed at optimising compliance with the 14-day home quarantine requirement.
Due to the risk posed by the transmission of the Delta variant, enhanced contact-tracing protocols are in place for all detected positive cases with a travel history from Great Britain. We continue to closely monitor for spread of Delta through the national programme of Whole Genome Sequencing with 42% of confirmed cases sequenced in week 20. All suspected cases of the Delta variant are managed as per enhanced public health investigation and control for Variants of Concern.
In addition, given the risks posed by the Delta variant, in particular to those who are not yet fully protected though vaccination, the Government decided last week that a range of higher risk indoor activities, including organised events, service in bars and restaurants, group training, exercise and dance will not commence as planned on the 5th July, pending the implementation of a system to verify vaccination or immunity status.
