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Starting at midnight, a 48-hour ban on flights from Great Britain came into effect, while ferries will be limited to cargo trips, as part of measures aimed at reducing the spread of a new strain of Covid-19. detected in the UK.
33 flights from the UK were due to arrive in Dublin today, with another 30 scheduled for tomorrow.
Airlines have assured customers whose flights have been canceled that they are entitled to a refund or a change of date.
Aer Lingus has confirmed that it will not operate flights from Great Britain to Ireland in that period, and has also said that it will operate flights from Ireland to Great Britain to facilitate repatriation and access to connecting flights.
Ryanair said that passengers affected by any banned flight between December 20 and 24 would be contacted by email and offered alternatives, including refunds or change of travel date.
The airline will operate all other flights, to or from the UK, that are allowed to fly, he said.
Ferries will continue to travel across the Irish Sea to carry freight, but the only passengers allowed are essential workers in the supply chain.
A Stena Line spokesman said the Department of Transportation confirmed to him that emergency or essential travel, including attending a funeral, for example, is not allowed under the ban.
Meanwhile, Stormont’s Health Minister has said he will consult with Northern Ireland’s attorney general on the legality of the travel ban from Britain.
It all comes as Medical Director Dr. Tony Holohan has once again urged people to keep their social contacts low or otherwise not visit vulnerable family members this week.
There were 764 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths, reported yesterday by the Health Department.
Read more: Latest coronavirus stories
Dr. Holohan said that all indicators of the severity of the disease are moving in the wrong direction.
In a statement, he said he was especially concerned about younger people, as the seven-day incidence rate of the virus in people aged 19 to 44 has doubled since Dec. 11.
He said that if the young mix with the elderly during the holiday season, it could lead to an increase in infections, hospitalizations and, ultimately, deaths.
Dr. Holohan urged people who have been socializing in recent days and weeks to carefully consider their Christmas plans and to stay away from older family members.
The chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team modeling group, Professor Philip Nolan, echoed their concerns, saying that the number of cases is now increasing rapidly and the five-day average is 557 cases per day. .
He also urged people to rethink their plans for Christmas so that they can be together, safely, next year.
Additional reports Sinéad Crowley
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