DUBLIN: Nurses and health workers in Ireland no longer need quarantine for international travel. The rule comes as the new European Union traffic light system for international travel takes effect in Ireland from midnight on Sunday.
However, as part of the new scheme, exemptions have been announced not only for health workers, but also for essential travellers.
The government has already released a list of those who have been exempted from the restrictions. Those on the list are:
● Healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals
● Cross-border worker
● Seasonal agricultural workers
● Transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods
● Passengers travelling for imperative family reasons
● Patients travelling for imperative medical reasons
● Pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis
● People travelling business reasons
● Diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations
● Military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions
● Seafarers
● Journalists, when performing their duties
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control will publish a weekly map of the European Union using a three-stage color system to indicate the level of risk in each region.
Risk levels are determined on the basis of a number of epidemiological factors, including the 14-day incidence per 100,000 population and the level of positive tests.
Different restrictions will be imposed on different color-coded areas.
Earlier, transport minister Eamon Ryan had said that quarantine would not be required from next Sunday if travelers could provide valid evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before they travelled.
However, the minister clarified that for those coming from a red region need to restrict movement for 14 days, as per the current requirement.
“It may see a return to travel for essential work in a way that gives us that benefit for the economy as well as protecting public health,” said Minister Ryan.