Dublin, Ireland: In recent days a number of restrictions, which had been in place due to Covid-19, have been eased as the vaccination rates rise across our population. The vaccination rate among Irish residents is now one of the highest in the world, with greater than 90% of all adults fully vaccinated and the vaccination programme now focusing on children down to the age of 12 years.
Easing of Mandatory Hotel Quarantine & travel to Ireland
The Minister for Health has announced a change to the list of designated states for mandatory hotel quarantine by adding one and removing 23. People who do not have valid proof of vaccination or recovery, arriving to Ireland having been in or transited through designated States in the previous 14 days, must enter Mandatory Hotel Quarantine. The countries currently on the (much reduced) list are as follows: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru. Note that Ecuador was also removed from the list on Saturday, Sept. 11th.
For the most up-to-date list of countries on the Mandatory Hotel Quarantine please visit: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
If you are travelling to Ireland, you must fill out an electronic Passenger Locator Form before departure. You must also have appropriate valid proof of vaccination or recovery, or present evidence of a negative RT-PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival into the country. Full information on these requirements is available at www.gov.ie/travel.
Many other COVID-19 restrictions eased for Irish residents
• September 1st: All public transport returned to 100% capacity. Face masks are required.
• September 6th: Organised indoor events and mass gatherings returned. For such events, where adults are vaccinated
or ‘immune’, or if under-18 and accompanied by an adult, 60% venue-capacity is permitted.
• September 20th: Workers are permitted to return to their workplaces, on a phased & staggered basis to be
communicated by their employers.
• September 20th: Return of organised indoor group activities (sport, arts, culture etc) with capacity limits of 100
people, where all participants are vaccinated of ‘immune’. Restrictions on outdoor group activities will be removed
completely.
• October 22nd: Nearly all the remaining restrictions will be lifted, including the requirements to socially distance or to
wear a mask outdoors, or in indoor private settings. This effectively means:
– No more limits on the numbers at indoor and outdoor events and activities
– No more restrictions on religious or civil ceremonies.
– The limit on numbers that can meet in private homes and gardens will be lifted.
– Certificate of vaccination, immunity or testing will no longer be required to get into restaurants or other activities or events, with the exception of international travel.
– So-called ‘high-risk’ activities will return, such as the reopening of nightclubs.
• The only measures that will remain in place relate to face coverings and self-isolation. Mask-wearing in shops, on public transport and in healthcare settings will still be required. People will still have to self-isolate when they have symptoms of COVID-19.
Important Note: The government have stated that they will continually review matters as they pertain to COVID-19 and reserve the right to postpone or cancel any of the above restrictions and/or impose new restrictions should the situation seriously deteriorate at any time.
Travelers from USA
On August 30th, the European Union recommended that its 27 member nations reinstate travel restrictions for American tourists because of rising coronavirus infections in the United States. The European Council has decided to remove the U.S. from its ‘safe list’ of countries for nonessential travel. This is a reversal from its June decision to recommend lifting restrictions on American travellers. However, this guidance is non-binding, so individual countries in the E.U. bloc can decide to impose their own sets of restrictions. No announcements on this matter have yet been made by the Irish Government.
For further information on COVID-19 measures in Ireland:
• Frank Morley frank.morley@corporatecare.ie +353 87 654 0179
• Niamh Bablena niamh.bablena@corporatecare.ie +353 86 859 7855
• Brian Kelly brian.kelly@corporatecare.ie +353 87 681 1441