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THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced that all passengers arriving in Ireland from Britain are advised to undertake daily antigen tests for five consecutive days.
The first of five tests should be done completed on the day of arrival, and people are advised to self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test if they develop symptoms or have a positive antigen test.
It comes after the Department of Health confirmed that there are now six confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Ireland with a number of other probable cases are under investigation.
Speaking this evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that those arriving in Ireland from Britain should exercise “a very high degree of caution”.
“When you’re traveling, your vaccination status is important. If you have the opportunity to get the booster before you travel, you should take it before you travel and to adopt a cautious approach,” he told the Tonight Show.
Martin emphasised that the measure “is advice” and “not regulatory”, describing it as “an additional precaution”.
When asked how curbing international travel would help given the variant is already in Ireland, he said: “We’re not curbing. We’re taking steps to protect people, to say to people to be conscious of this. Slowing it down, getting the booster out, I think, will give us adequate protection.”
In a statement this evening, the Government said it had received “an updated public health assessment in relation to the Omicron variant” and a number of travel-related measures have now been agreed.
The measures have been agreed while “taking account of relevant factors”, including the intention to continue to align with the overall European Union approach to travel, and the particular circumstances of the Common Travel Area.
The government will also update its Covid-19 communications, urging any prospective overseas traveller to seek a booster vaccine, if eligible, and to consider their own health, vaccine status and the local spread of Omicron before making a decision on travelling.
The current requirement for all overseas passengers to have a “not-detected” pre-departure Covid test, whether it be antigen or PCR, will continue to apply.
Airlines and ferry companies will continue to check pre-departure test compliance, with spot-checking by border management officials also maintained at points of arrival.
Suspect a lot of free NHS tests will be gifted this Christmas!
@Theportobello: U have to book a test & pay for it & it has to be done professionally a family member coming for Christmas PCR £69 Antigen test £28 as she is fully vacinated plus her booster she can use the Antigen test so no free NHS tests kits
@Sheila McNulty: Advised to take an antigen test each day for 5 days – that’s what the article is about – not a professional test
@Sheila McNulty: what antigen tests costs £28?
@john smith iv: The official ones administered by a company which give you a cert to travel. Completed mine yesterday for £35.
Cheaper than a PCR. This article isn’t talking about them, just the standard tests you can pick up for free to do yourself…
@Sheila McNulty: Free walk in centres all over UK now.
Next thing they will be advising, is for passengers to pick up free covid tests before they leave the UK and use them here.
@Peter O Donnell: Why would the Irish government care where people procure their tests?
@Anne Busher Collins: Because unlike here, they are free in the UK. Sarcasm not your strong point Anne?
@Peter O Donnell: already doing it.. every passenger from the U.K. will be bringing boxes of LFTs home for Xmas cos this government is a joke! I have boxes ready to come home with me.
Hahahahahaha!
Hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I’ll bring my box of free NHS Antigen tests home for Xmas so!
@Philip Pip Adams: Good man Philip yer Irish family will have a great xmas proper order. Why do you laugh like a hiyena though?
@Philip Pip Adams: ????.say hi to bojo
‘Advised’. More half measures
Why use them? I though they were “snake oil” according to Phillip Nolan… A member of NPHET and the main man in charge of modelling this virus. Somebody has to go here becuse we are going around and around and it’s only jobs that will be lost in aviation and travel. A sector that has already been hammered the last 2 years.
Maybe if they were free like the Uk people
Would use them.
Flights into Belfast will be a lot Busier now I’d say …
Advised!!
If anyone interested I’ve 10,000 antigen tests for sale. Good price. Won’t be beaten guaranteed.
@Paul Gorry: Moore Street hoor
What’s the point of an advisory notice, nobody will give a toss and ignore it. Make it a law or don’t bother Mehole.
So not only is this advice pointless it’s feckin useless. sreems about right.
“……… including the intention to continue to align with the overall European Union approach to travel, and the particular circumstances of the Common Travel Area.”
We cannot align with EU guidelines as long as we continue to have a CTA with a non EU country, with people coming and going without controls or, as in this case, taking tests on a voluntary basis.
We are the only country in Europe which allows free movement of people from a non-EU country.
Either we are in Europe and follow EU rules or we are not.
It’s embarrassing for a so-called independent country to have to automatically align with British decisions a few minutes after they are announced.
@Shedonny: Not the only EU country allowing free movement from a non EU country.
There is free travel between Switzerland and Austria/ Germany/ Italy/ France though Switzerland is part of Schengen.
Is there no omnicron outside ifhe UK or is it just the fact that travellers from UK can grab free antigen tests in pharmacies. This clown doesn’t inspire any confidence in government
I know it’s only advised but I do think most people will follow this
@Peter: Really? What planet are you living on ?
Pure con job
Who’s making these? I wanna invest in their stock
An instance of closing the stable door once the horse has bolted.
Should they not test for five days before coming here. And who will test themselves for five days when here.
Are truck drivers and flight crews and other essential transport workers exempt from these tests like before ?
@Dave Byrne: yes
Which antigen are really accurate? Got 2 antigens (centra) done, both positive. Pcr test next day – negative
“……… including the intention to continue to align with the overall European Union approach to travel, and the particular circumstances of the Common Travel Area.”
We cannot align with EU guidelines as long as we continue to have a CTA with a non EU country, with people coming and going without controls or, in this case, taking tests on a voluntary basis.
We are the only country in Europe which allows free movement of people from a non-EU country.
We must decide whether we are in Europe, and follow EU rules, or not.
In my opinion we should get rid of the CTA and join Schengen.
It’s embarrassing for a so-called independent country to have to automatically align with British decisions a few minutes after they are announced.
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