Government is threatening to lock up tourists if they can’t prove they’re Covid negative.
And homecoming Irish travellers would also have to be cooped-up in mandatory quarantine if they don’t show a negative test on arrival back from holidays.
The proposal would see anybody coming into the country placed in 14 days isolation and prevented from mixing with the community if they don’t show a negative PCR Covid test.
The strict new regime is being considered as a new tool to beat Covid while the Government desperately scrambles to halt the spread of the rampaging virus.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Coveney, was responding to stark warnings from NPHET and the HSE at the Oireachtas health committee.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, reiterated the belief of top docs that mandatory quarantine is fundamental in preventing Covid coming in from abroad.
Dr Glynn is now calling for the doubt to be taken away when people are “strongly advised” by the Government to self-isolate when coming from abroad.
He said that “all discretions should be removed.”
Mr Coveney was speaking on RTE’s News at One where he indicated that the drastic move to mandatory quarantine for rogue travellers is being considered.
He said: “We’re looking at other alternatives, that’s a conversation that’s taking place right across the EU…. and that’s why we’re looking at the potential use of increased visa requirements.
“That’s why we are looking at, for example, the possibility of requiring mandatory quarantine for people that arrive without a PCR test, on top of the potential legal consequences in terms of fines.
“So there are things we can do and we’re looking at them.”
The current fines for non-compliance are up to €2,500 per person.
