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New travel restrictions banning travel from Great Britain to Ireland will take effect at midnight.
The unprecedented decision was made after a meeting of government party leaders on Sunday after a tough briefing by medical director Dr. Tony Holohan.
Transportation Minister Eamon Ryan made the announcement about the new restrictions Sunday night after another 764 new Covid-19 cases and four more deaths were reported and as a new strain of Covid-19 continued to grow in Gran Brittany.
Eamon Ryan says the government has to limit travel due to the new strain of Covid19. He says that it is correct to follow the example of other EU countries. It will try to safely repatriate people who need to return home. There will be more changes, it is a moving situation.
– aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) December 20, 2020
EU countries started banning travel to and from the UK over the weekend, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands have already banned passenger flights from Britain.
The ban on flights and ferries from the UK will initially be extended for 48 hours until the cabinet has a chance to review the situation on Tuesday.
Exemptions have been made for essential workers and those who bring goods into the country.
“This new strain of Covid-19 that they seem to have identified appears to have a much higher transmission rate, they are advising people not to move to the southeast of England,” Ryan said.
“On the same precautionary basis, it is right that we follow the Dutch and Italians, and other governments will.
“Any passenger who is in transit or near a difficulty, we will have mechanisms to repatriate them safely, but general travel between here and Britain is restricted and we will review it in the cabinet.”
There will be more changes, this is a moving situation.
“There is concern and we have seen an increase in the numbers in our own country in the last two or three days in particular. Therefore, the European Center for Disease Control has issued more advice tonight.
“We are analyzing that and it is saying throughout Europe, not only here we have to be more alert, to be more careful.”
“Follow the basics, cut down on contacts, cut down on the amount of socializing, sadly this time of year, but that’s what we do.
Ryan added that “it’s not like after 48 hours this will loosen up.”
Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan said that all indicators of disease severity are moving in the wrong direction.
“We have particularly strong concerns about the possibility of intergenerational mixing around the holiday season,” he said.
This would lead to a very serious pattern of illness, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and unnecessary deaths. ”
The decision has been influenced by the prevalence of a new strain of Covid19 in England that is more difficult to detect. The strain has yet to be found in Ireland.
Stephen Donnelly told RTÉ’s This Week program that he was looking for flights and ferries from Britain to Ireland, adding that the government was “seriously” considering the issue due to concerns about a new strain of coronavirus circulating in the south. from England, which has yet to be detected here.
Donnelly said the government “will not seal the border” but will give “good advice” on travel north and south.
There were long lines at London airports and train stations over the weekend when UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tightening of Covid-19 restrictions in the South East, including London.
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