Dublin Airport: 13 More Countries Added to Government’s Covid-19 High Risk Travel List in Ireland

Ireland has added 13 countries to its 14-day mandatory quarantine list, which requires arrivals from countries designated as “high risk” to be quarantined at designated hotels.

The government introduced legislation this week to introduce mandatory quarantine in hotels and intends to begin operation in the coming weeks.

Arrivals from countries can be quarantined in any direction until the system is in place.

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela were added to the initial list of 20 countries.

The government says the measures protect the country from new COVID-19 variants after the most infectious B1.1.7 variant first detected in Britain recently became the dominant strain in Ireland, slowing down the suppression of its deadliest wave to date.

Ireland’s mandatory quarantine list is now very similar to the 33 countries on neighboring England’s “red list”, where a hotel system was implemented this month.

Ireland’s deputy chief medical officer has urged parents of school-age children not to organize play dates and warned them not to congregate at the school gates.

Dr. Ronan Glynn said there is great concern that the partial reopening of schools is taken as a sign that the mix and mobility of homes is acceptable.

In an open letter to parents and guardians of school children, Dr. Glynn said: “We cannot allow this to happen at this time. Despite the progress we have made, Covid-19 is still circulating at high levels in our communities.

“We must do everything we can, individually and collectively, to ensure that the reopening of schools results in the least possible upward pressure on breeding numbers.

“Please avoid congregating at the school gates for the next several weeks. Please do not have play dates or organize after-school activities that involve mixing from home.

“And continue working from home unless essential.

“It is only through your continued acceptance of these measures that we can ensure that our children go back to school and then stay in school.

“I know these are difficult requests. We all, adults and children alike, want to get together with our friends and neighbors and get back to our old routines. And we will succeed.

“We now have three very effective vaccines and hopefully three more on the way.”

The gradual reopening of schools and childcare will see some students return to the classroom on Monday.

Young and old children, as well as first and second class children in elementary schools, will be among the first to return to school.

Students who drop the Certificate will also return to the classroom next week.

It occurs when 29 other people who tested positive for coronavirus died.

Another 776 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were also announced on Friday.

There are currently 574 Covid-positive patients in the hospital, of which 136 are in intensive care.

As of February 23, 373,280 doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered in Ireland.

This includes 238,841 first doses and 134,439 second doses.

Meanwhile, the chief of the Health Services Executive said staff are working “day and night” to ensure mass vaccination centers are ready for increased vaccine supplies.

Paul Reid said there are currently 6,500 people trained in the Covid-19 vaccination program.

A national recruitment drive is currently underway to recruit more staff ahead of a significant increase in vaccines.

The HSE executive director said implementation is based on supply and all vaccines are being delivered.

About 100,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines are expected to be delivered this week, the highest to date.

The Health Department said plans are being implemented to vaccinate one million people a month starting in April.

“We have a lot of preparedness plans in place, both in terms of the various locations we have and the major recruiting drive,” Reid told RTE.

The Government claims to have administered the first doses to 40% of people over 18 years of age at the end of April, 64% at the end of May and up to 82% of adults at the end of June.

Some 37 vaccination centers are to be established across the country, with the goal of having one in each county.

Reid said Friday that there has been an increase in resources to prepare the vaccination centers.

“We have seen the use of vaccination centers, like the use of Helix last week in DCU with more than 1,000 vaccinations per 100 GPs.

“In these centers up to 5,000 people are vaccinated a day.

“We have been working day and night to put these preparations into practice, this is a great motivator for us in the healthcare teams and the staff who are working on something really positive – everyone has mobilized behind this.

“To date, we are in an exciting place in vaccinating people over the age of 70.”

Mr. Reid also urged the public to continue to follow the Level 5 restrictions.

“People have made great sacrifices, particularly since December and we don’t want to lose the progress we have made,” he added.

“All the indicators are going in the right direction, but it is still on a high base.”