People travelling to Ireland from countries outside the European Union (EU) – including Canada, Australia and the US – will soon be able to stop restricting their movements after five days if they receive a negative Covid-19 PCR test.
The news will come as a huge boost to Irish people living outside the EU as many pray they'll be able come home to spend Christmas with family.
A Government spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Mirror that people arriving from outside the EU will be treated the same as red or grey EU countries for the purposes of restricting movements.
The spokesperson said the rules for non-EU countries is "being kept under review", but added that for now, the approach is the same as for red or grey regions.
In practice, this means non-EU visitors who receive a negative PCR test a minimum of five days after they arrive in Ireland can stop restricting their movements.
The Government has warned, however, that only PCR tests – known as the gold standard when it comes to Covid-19 testing – will be accepted, and told travellers that these will not be provided through the public health system.
Yesterday, Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne said the rule change is "not an open door for travel", and said latest estimates are that a private PCR test will cost somewhere between €150 and €200.
Until November 29, people arriving from EU regions that aren't classified as green – every country other than Greenland, in other words – are advised to restrict their movements for two weeks.
Exceptions are in place for travellers coming for an essential reason – an exemption that also applies to travellers from outside the EU.
And Leo Varadkar today advised Irish people living abroad not to book their flights home just yet.
The Tánaiste told the Dáil: "I think in terms of people booking flights for Christmas to come home, I advise them not to do that at the moment."
He added: “International travel is a risk.
“I think we need to be upfront and honest about that.
“There is a risk that as we get down to very low levels again that the country could be reseeded by people travelling in from overseas."
