What you need to know about flights, ferries and repatriation

How is the Irish government dealing with the most virulent new strain of Covid-19 detected in the UK?

On Sunday night, the government announced a total ban on flights from Britain for at least the next 48 hours, the strictest measures taken to date with regard to international travel.

“The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Health had detailed discussions on Sunday and announced that in the interest of Public Health, people in Great Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel to Ireland, by air or by sea. “Said the Government in a statement.

This means that all travel from Great Britain, except for supply chain workers, will be banned by order of Health Minister Stephen Donnelly from midnight. The ban will apply to both flights and ferries. Travel between the Republic and Northern Ireland will continue to be allowed, but people are strongly advised not to do so.

The ban will last 48 hours so the cabinet has time to meet Tuesday and discuss the issue in detail. The ban is expected to be extended in some way.

Will planes and ferries continue to operate?

All flights will cease for the next 48 hours and probably longer. Airlines have already been informed of the ban.

Ferries will continue to operate to keep supply chains open. However, these will not carry normal passengers. The only exceptions to the ban are essential workers in the supply chain, such as ship personnel and drivers of heavy vehicles.

There is no provision for other “essential travel”, which means that people traveling for work or humanitarian reasons are included in the ban.

This will affect thousands of Irish residents of the UK who plan to fly or sail home to spend with their families at Christmas. A survey conducted by FRS Recruitment last month found that more than four in ten Irish workers in the UK planned to return home for the holiday period.

What about the Irish currently in Britain on short trips?

The government says it is implementing arrangements for the repatriation of Irish residents who are currently in Britain on short trips and who planned to return in the coming days.

It is not clear how these repatriation efforts will work. The Air Corps may be involved, but the large number of people likely to need assistance makes the government more likely to charter private jets.

How does the Irish measure compare to UK regulations?

On Sunday, in reaction to the new Covid-19 strain, the UK government placed the southeast of England, including London, under Level 4 restrictions. These restrictions prevent any non-essential travel in or out of Level 4 areas, including international travel.

The ban affects all residents of Greater London, as well as all or part of Surrey, Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, East Sussex and Buckinghamshire. It will be reviewed on December 30.

People living in the rest of the country can still travel internationally and can use London airports to do so. However, the ban on the Irish side means there will be no flights to Ireland from anywhere on the island.

The Netherlands and Belgium have already stopped flights and Italy is expected to do the same. France and Germany are believed to be considering similar measures.

What about the Irish flying home from another country with a connecting flight to the UK?

Connecting flights to Ireland will also be banned for 48 hours under Irish rules even though the UK government will continue to allow people to pass through London airports.

Ireland will offer repatriation to Irish residents traveling home via a connecting flight in Great Britain.

What about refunds?

The government ban on flights and ferries means that customers should be entitled to a full refund.

Aer Lingus and Ryanair have yet to comment on the matter. Aer Lingus responded to customers on Twitter early Sunday, saying it would waive exchange fees, while not addressing refunds.

UK-based airlines such as Easyjet have committed to reimbursing anyone unable to fly out of London due to Tier 4 restrictions, while British Airways only offers a coupon.

How concerned should we be about this new strain of Covid-19?

The UK government says the new strain is up to 70 percent more infectious. However, to date there is no evidence that it is more dangerous or that it is resistant to vaccines.

Donnelly said Sunday that he would be “pleasantly surprised” if the new strain was not already in Ireland.

“I don’t think anything is inevitable, but I will be very, very, pleasantly surprised if he is not here,” given the number of flights, ferries and travel between the UK and Ireland.

It would be “very naive to think that it potentially would not be here,” he said.