DUBLIN: COVID positive cases were confirmed among the travellers yesterday for the first time since Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine came into effect last week. Three passengers staying in Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dublin Airport tested positive for COVID-19.
The positive cases were identified during the initial test of travellers who arrived at the mandatory quarantine facility. According to an HSE source, people who were found to be infected with the virus were moved to a ‘Covid wing’ within the Crowne Plaza hotel.
Those arriving from a high-risk country are currently required to stay in a mandatory hotel quarantine for 12 nights. The visitors will be subjected for COVID test on the first and 10th days of their quarantine.
There are currently 33 countries on the “category two” list. A further 43 countries are being considered for inclusion on the high-risk country list.
The Travel Expert Advisory Group has recommended the US and EU countries, including France, Germany and Italy, be added to the list of additional countries. The recommended list is based on countries with virus infection rates greater than 500 per 100,000 population. As a result, it is expected that the number of passengers subjected to mandatory hotel quarantine will increase.
The list of additional countries will be considered by the NPHET, and the Minister of Health will consult with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A decision will made on these countries later this week.
The quarantine hotels are managed by Tifco group. The hotels being used for mandatory quarantine are the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport in Santry, the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport, Clontarf Castle hotel and the Hard Rock Hotel in Dublin city centre.
The quarantine costs €1,875 per individual. If travellers do not follow the rules, they face a €2,000 fine or a month in jail.
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