The United Kingdom confirmed over the weekend that new travel restrictions would be implemented in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron variant.
The strain was first detected in South Africa last week. It has already spread to several countries around the world including Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands, as well as England and Scotland.
So far, there have not been any detected cases in Ireland, but Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said on Monday that it is “likely” the variant is already here.
He told presenter Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One that a number of suspected cases of the strain were under investigation.
This variant is believed to be more infectious than previous strains, and vaccines less effective against it. However, the full scope of this is not yet known, with experts predicting that it will take about three weeks to fully study and understand its patterns.
The UK will have tougher restrictions for those travelling to the nation from Tuesday, including a negative PCR test result.
Those who are suspected of having the Omicron strain will have to isolate for ten days, regardless of their vaccination status.
But there was a surprising boost for Irish travellers, as it emerged these measures apply to arrivals from all countries apart from the Common Travel Area, which includes Ireland.
People coming from Ireland will not require a PCR test and will not have to quarantine when travelling within the CTA. This applies to those who have not left the CTA in the ten days before their journey.
The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are also included within the CTA.
It comes as the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that the cases detected there were connected to travel to southern Africa.
Positive cases were ordered to self-isolate along with their households. Targeted testing was carried out in the areas they are thought to have been infectious.
Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have been added to Britain’s ‘red list’. This means that residents who have travelled to these countries must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for ten days. Non-residents are not permitted entry.
A mask mandate will return for shops and public transport from Tuesday, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed.
Meanwhile at home, the Department of Health has announced measures to mitigate against Omicron.
Non-essential travel to countries of concern, most of which are on the African continent, is recommended to be avoided. Visa requirements have also been updated.
Irish residents who are returning to the country from high-risk areas will be required to undergo strict home quarantine, regardless of vaccine, recovery, or test status. PCR testing during quarantine will also be required.
