The EU traffic light system for international travel will start in November

The new European system of “traffic lights” to coordinate Covid-19 international travel restrictions across the continent will take effect in Ireland on Sunday, November 8.

This week, the Cabinet agreed to align Ireland with the EU traffic light system.

Under the plan, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control will publish a weekly map of the EU using a three-stage color system to indicate the level of risk in each area.

The levels will be determined by a variety of epidemiological factors, including the incidence of 14 days per 100,000 population and the level of positive tests.

A fourth color, gray, will be assigned to areas with insufficient data.

Travelers coming from a red, orange or gray zone might have to self-quarantine or take a Covid-19 test upon arrival in a country, while those coming from a green zone would face no action.

Transport Minister Hildegarde Naughton has said that a high-level technical group within departments will oversee it every two weeks.

Many countries in Europe, including Ireland, are on a red list as of now, he explained.

“For the countries on the orange and red list, we are asking people to restrict their movements for 14 days, as is currently the case for all travelers. For countries on the orange list, there will be an exemption from restricting movements if the person takes a validated pre-departure test.

“The requirement for the red-listed countries remains the same as it is at the moment and people will have to restrict their movements,” he said.

The high-level technical group will study and evaluate the types of tests that Ireland will conduct.

While he said that the PCR test is the “gold standard”, other potential types of tests are in the works that could become available or validated in the future.

“We want to leave that open so we can use it for pre-departure testing,” he said.

On the schedule, the minister said the amber list country requirement will go into effect at midnight on Sunday, November 8, with a pre-departure test for people traveling from the amber list counties.

“The countries on the red list, like Ireland, will be as they are for the moment where people will have to restrict their movements for 14 days. The high-level technical group will study the test regimes for the red list countries and how it would work, ”he added.

She said the government’s decision on testing will help open connectivity in a safe way while adhering to all health protocols and will help people like Shannon Airport.

“We have to be aware that most of Europe are now red zone countries. However, now is a good time to start planning and preparing for that pre-flight test regimen, ”he said.

Last week, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar acknowledged that the PCR swab currently in use costs € 150-200 per test, while the rapid test is much cheaper. These tests are used in Germany and other airports in Europe.

Varadkar said that Nphet and the government advisory committee are considering the issue. “However, I will encourage you to make that decision as quickly as possible. Decisions were made slowly about the face covers. They should not be done slowly on this. “