Travel restrictions have been reimposed in an effort to contain a new strain of Covid as the World Health Organization yesterday classified the «Omicron» variant as a concern.
The republic last night followed the European Union in agreeing to implement «emergency braking» on arrivals from eight countries in South Africa, with Belgium confirming the bloc’s first case of Omicron. There are concerns that this new alternative could be more transmissible and may show resistance to vaccines.
People arriving in Ireland from the eight countries will have to quarantine at home for 10 days after entering the state. While the number of travelers affected will be small, the reimposition of travel restrictions marks another return to tighter restrictions to get Covid under control.
Amid plans to expand the rollout of the booster vaccine in the state, Health Secretary Stephen Donnelly has signaled support for the National Public Health Emergencies Team (Nphet) recommendations that no sleepovers, networking, indoor birthday parties and children’s play dates be held for at least the next two weeks.
While the government has not formally considered the advice, Mr Donnelly said last night: «I would certainly support the advice. I think it is very important as a preventative measure for children of this age right now.»
People arriving here from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will have to submit a PCR result before the «undetected» flight, regardless of vaccination status, home quarantine for 10 days, and two more PCR tests. The obligation is old for new arrivals from these countries, who will be tracked and contacted using the passenger locator form. Police will initially monitor compliance.
Irish citizens and residents are advised not to travel to and leave these countries if they are there. The new option has raised questions about whether the travel restrictions would be imposed if they were established in other European countries.
A government source indicated that the focus will be on coordinated action across the bloc, with a host of legal, diplomatic and political difficulties inherent in restricting travel between EU countries. However, coalition sources believe that some of the encrypted travel systems between EU countries – such as the previous traffic light system – could be re-examined, if necessary. The government hopes that cooperation and monitoring will help avoid further restrictions.
While no cases of the variant have been identified in Ireland, there was an alarm in the government last night about the developments, which also paved the way for a possible reintroduction of the hotel’s mandatory quarantine system. Proposals to pass legislation revitalizing the system are being prepared for the Cabinet, but no final decision has been made on whether to re-introduce it, although it is seen as a possibility.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised checking the re-entry of mandatory hotel quarantine.
Pfizer has indicated that it can produce a custom vaccine against Omicron in about 100 days, but the new alternative has added more pressure to the state’s booster vaccine campaign. It should extend to all people over 16, with priority given to people in their 50s and those with underlying conditions.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden said the United States will push for a global agreement to waive intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines so they can be manufactured globally.
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