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The Government plans to introduce two days of restrictions on air and sea travel from Britain starting at midnight.
The restrictions are intended to stop the spread of a new strain of the coronavirus that, according to British public health chiefs, spreads faster than the original Covid-19 virus.
Cargo ships and cargo planes will continue to operate and some essential workers will be able to travel as well.
The Cabinet will review the restrictions when they meet on Tuesday. A senior government source said the measures are being taken as a precaution and to allow the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to review the situation.
An Nphet meeting is anticipated to take place on Wednesday to assess the risk of the disease in this country and the new strain found in the southeast of England will also be reviewed.
A senior government source said they hope the new strain has already reached Ireland. The source said that cases of the new strain have been identified in Northern Ireland.
However, it is understood that Irish public health experts are not as concerned about the new strain as their British counterparts.
“I wouldn’t say Public Health England, but our people seem to be more of the opinion that there are many strains of the virus,” said a source.
It comes when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned travel in and out of the south-east of the country and introduced lockdown measures for the Christmas period.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy have banned British travelers from flying to their airports for fear that the new strain of coronavirus will spread among citizens. Scotland has also prevented people from traveling to and from England.
Speaking on The Week on RTÉ Radio One earlier today, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said they were concerned about the new strain.
“We are concerned about [the new coronavirus variant]”Mr. Donnelly said.
“We are very concerned about it and today we will make an announcement about possible travel restrictions.”
Online editors
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