Some of the top holiday destinations for Irish tourists are keeping their eye on the Covid situation here ahead of an expected rise in people searching for some winter sun.
Nearly 7,000 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the past two days in Ireland.
But the Government does not want to bring back any measures as one source said “we would need to see a significant shift in the pattern of the disease impacting our health service".
One of the main measures that could return is a ban on international travel - but this is unlikely thanks to the introduction of the EU Digital Covid Certificate.
This allows free movement for EU residents throughout the continent, provided they are vaccinated.
However, travellers are advised that they are not 100% safe from catching the virus when abroad, particularly in regions where the virus is surging.
And this where Ireland seems to be struggling.
Spain
All travellers arriving to Spain by air or by sea, including children of any age, passengers in transit to other countries and residents in Spain returning home, must fill in a Health Control Form before departure.
All travellers coming from countries and areas considered at risk must present a document certifying vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or a negative result to an active infection diagnostic test
Portugal
Travel to Portugal from the European Union and Schengen Associated countries (Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland) is permitted for essential and non-essential travel reasons.
All passengers need to fill a Passenger Locator Card before departure to Portugal, hold a EU Digital COVID certificate OR a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test.
Holders of EUDCC will be allowed to enter Portugal, without being subject to further restrictions (testing or quarantine), at the condition that their certificate contains either:
- Proof of vaccination;
- Proof of recovery from COVID-19;
- Negative result to a COVID-19 test.
Both PCR and antigenic tests are accepted.
Validity: 72 hours for PCR tests, 48 hours for RAT tests
Italy
Ireland currently sits on List C of the Italian Government's Covid plan.
For all those who, during the fourteen days prior to entry into Italy, have stayed in or passed through one or more States and territories referred to in List C, the legislation provides that, upon entry into Italy, the following will be mandatory:
- fill in the Digital Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy. The form replaces the self-declaration made to the transport operator.
- providing the or other equivalent certification in one of the following languages: Italian, English, French or Spanish, showing one of the following conditions:
Free movement is allowed to and from these countries for any reason, therefore also for tourism, as long as you have not stayed in or passed through one of the countries on List E in the 14 days prior to entering Italy - which includes the UK.
