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More than 16,000 Irish residents have returned to the state in the last two and a half weeks alone.
Figures provided to RTÉ News from the Justice Department show that around 3,000 of them were traveling home to see a sick family member, for medical reasons or a funeral, while 65%, or more than 10,000, were returning from vacation or visits abroad.
2,321 people were on work or business trips, 1,175 said they were visiting a sick family member, 955 cited medical reasons and 900 said they were attending a funeral.
The United Kingdom, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Poland and Romania were the top five countries from which people entered Ireland during the period.
10,547 non-Irish residents also came to Ireland during that period.
2,119 were in transit to another country on the same day, 2,059 said they were on vacation or visiting.
1,253 said they were moving for work, 1,248 were in transit to Northern Ireland and 1,243 were for work.
It occurs when 18 additional states have been added to the government’s list of ‘high risk’ coronavirus countries.
Angola, Austria, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe have been added to the list.
Brazil and South Africa have been on the list since February 5.
People arriving in Ireland from these countries will have to self-quarantine for a mandatory period of 14 days.
The requirement will take effect immediately.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “Under current Level 5 restrictions, no one should take non-essential travel at this time. These strict measures for people arriving in Ireland from 20 states are necessary to respond to the risks that raise the variants of concern.
“People arriving in Ireland now must complete a full mandatory 14-day period of self-quarantine if they have been in any of these states in the previous 14 days. The government will shortly consider legislation that will require passengers arriving here to complete this quarantine in a designated facility. “
The government must publish legislation that will require passengers arriving here to complete this quarantine at a designated facility.
Donnelly said the Justice Minister was examining changes to the visa arrangements for the applicable states being added to the list.
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Opposition parties, including Sinn Fein, Labor and the Social Democrats, agree that there should be a mandatory quarantine for all passengers arriving in the state.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has reiterated requests for mandatory hotel quarantine for all non-essential international arrivals to the island of Ireland.
Ms McDonald said that all inbound non-essential travelers must arrive with a negative Covid-19 test, which should be followed up with a second test a few days after arrival.
She told RTÉ News that “we have to avoid further importation of the virus, particularly any newer and more dangerous variant of it, so I don’t know why the government will not just do what needs to be done and what is needed.” What remains to be done is the hotel quarantine for all non-essential travelers to our island. ”
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