U.S., Canada, France, Italy, Others Join Ireland's Growing Mandatory Quarantine List

The Irish government last night added the United States, France, Italy and thirteen other countries to its growing mandatory quarantine list for inbound travelers. From April 15 2021, people arriving from these countries are subject to mandatory hotel quarantine.

Those subject to quarantine are responsible for the cost of their stay. The rate for the 12 nights is €1875.00. 

Irish news organisations report that, to date, over four-hundred people have been subject to the new quarantine legislation, and are staying in government approved hotels. RTE reports that ten confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected through testing at the quarantine hotels since 26 March. 

Those facing quarantine are advised that it is a criminal offence to leave a designated facility without authorisation. A person found guilty of breaking quarantine faces a fine of €2000, one month in prison, or both. 

A total of 59 countries are now on the government's red list. 

The addition of the United States and EU countries comes following terse inter-governmental discussions and arguments. Many legislators cite existing EU freedom of travel laws, as well as the historic relationship with the U.S. as reasons not to expand the list to include these countries.

However, Irish health officials' growing worry about COVID variants, and the effect they would have on Ireland's population and economy, at last resulted in government agreement.

Today marks Ireland's one-hundredth day in lockdown. As of this writing, citizens can only travel 5 kilometers from their homes. Most shops are closed as are church services, concerts, sporting events, and similar public gatherings. While restrictions will ease from next Monday, additional relaxation of COVID guidelines is dependent on the continued roll out and ramping up of vaccinations.

Ireland, as with all EU countries, has seen significant delays in deliveries of many vaccines, in particular the Astra Zeneca jab. The government had hinged the country's recovery on the millions of doses it had expected to receive. 

The government is now playing catch up as additional doses are finally being delivered.

For more information, visit the Irish governments mandatory quarantine website. For additional news, go to RTE. 

The 2021 - and Final! - Edition of A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland
is Now Available on Amazon!

Though the world is a poorer place right now, we still look to the horizon with hope. If you're dreaming of living and working in - or traveling to - Ireland, this book might be for you. At over 90,000 words, A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021, gives readers an insight of what it's like to immigrate to this beautiful country: of how to become a citizen, how to get a job and work visa, how to enjoy a perfect pint of Guinness, and the amazing tapestry that is Ireland. 

For more information, visit Amazon and A Survivor's Guide to Living in Ireland, 2021 Edition. 

 

Ireland Institutes Mandatory Quarantine for Travelers

If you're thinking of traveling to Ireland in the near future, think again. 

This Friday, March 26, 2021, sees the start of mandatory hotel quarantines for most people coming to Ireland. Passengers arriving into the Republic from a list of designated 'Category 2, high risk' countries will be required to stay in a designated hotel for twelve nights.

What's more, those people will have to bear the cost: €1,875 for the period of their stay. 

Category 2 is made up of a list of 33 countries experiencing high levels of COVID-19. Right now that list includes many African nations (including South Africa), a number of South American countries (Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela make the list), as well as Austria and the United Arab Emirates.

But be warned: Countries can be added to this 'danger' list at any time, and at the government's discretion. 

Moreover.... all inbound travelers now require valid proof of a negative PCR test for the virus. If you haven't got a certificate on you, proving that fact, you will also face mandatory quarantine at a daily rate of €150. In other words, if you don't have a valid negative test document, you will be whisked directly from the airport to your quarantine hotel. And don't even think about appealing.

Some people are exempt from the new regulations: aircrews, maritime crews, drivers of heavy goods vehicles transporting items to and from this country, and a few others. And that's it.

But for anyone else? Before you book your next trip to Ireland, make certain that your country of origin hasn't been designated Category 2 by the Irish government or you could be in deep trouble.

Background 

After twelve weeks of lockdown, the people of this country continue to suffer from the third wave of the global pandemic. Over 4,500 are now dead from the virus. Analysis suggests that part of the reason for the continuing spread of COVID in Ireland (particularly new variants) is unregulated inbound arrival of travelers from countries that are suffering from the virus worse than we are. Too, some Irish have also been at fault. A few of Irish travelers have chosen to holiday abroad even during the pandemic. When they came home, they've brought back the unwelcome gift of illness.

For weeks now many people including scientists, politicians, as well as members of the general public, have clamored for travel restrictions to choke off entry points for the virus. With the arrival of mandatory quarantine, it seems the government has finally listened to their demands.

Check Before You Book

You might be reading this from a chair in London or a couch in Florida. At this point, neither the United Kingdom nor the United States is on the Category 2 list. But as I point out above, if I were you...

Before you book your Irish-bound trip, check the list. And also realize that even if you book a trip for the summer right now - thinking everything is okay - but should your country of origin make the list before you depart, you might want to cancel. Or, you could find yourself spending almost 2 weeks in quarantine before you can make your way into the Irish countryside.

For more information:

• Today's The Journal article
• Today's RTE News article
• New Irish Government Mandatory Hotel Website