Irish holidaymakers hoping to jet away to sunny European destinations are being advised to remain cautious over the ongoing situation with Covid-19.
Thanks to the arrival of the EU Digital Green Certificate last month, planeloads of tourists have been seeking out more exotic climes in Spain, Portugal and Italy.
However, they are being advised to avoid so-called 'red zones' across the EU in holiday hotspots where the virus is rampant.
Every week, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) publishes new maps to support the EU Council's recommendation on travel measures across the bloc during the pandemic.
'Red' zones are areas where the 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 of the population is more than 200 but less than 500.
'Dark red' regions are where the 14-day incidence rate of cases per 100,000 of the population is 500 or more.
The latest maps published by the ECDC for the weeks 30 to 31 this year show that several regions popular with Irish holidaymakers are either red or dark red.
All but two regions in Spain are dark red, the others being red, while much of France, Portugal and Greece are also in the red.
The guidelines published by the European Commission state: "In view of the difficult epidemiological situation linked to more infectious coronavirus variants, Member States should strongly discourage all non-essential travel to and from ‘dark red’ and discourage all such travel to and from ‘red’ areas."
However, it is still legal for holidaymakers to travel to these countries from Ireland thanks to the Digital Covid Cert.
This document shows whether someone has been vaccinated against coronavirus, has recovered or recently tested negative.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has also warned any Irish tourists that are travelling to Spain to remember that while antigen tests are accepted on arrival, they are not suitable when returning to Ireland.
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A spokesperson said: "All passengers arriving in Spain (mainland as well as Canary and Balearic Islands) from Ireland and other risk countries must:
- Submit a completed Locator Form. This form can be completed online via the Spain Travel Health website or app
- Hold a certificate or document confirming that they are vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recovered from COVID-19 or have a negative/not-detected result of a diagnostic test
- In the case of a negative/not-detected test result, passengers must present evidence of a Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT – including RT-PCR, LAMP and TMA) carried out with 72 hours prior to arrival in Spain or a Rapid Antigen Test carried out no more than 48 hours prior to arrival in Spain. Please note that only RT-PCR tests are acceptable in order to enter Ireland.
"In the case of proof of vaccination, passengers must present evidence that they have received the full course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain."
The spokesperson added: "In the case of recovery from COVID, passengers must present evidence that at least 11 days have passed since they received a positive result on a NAAT.
"Passengers may present the EU Digital COVID Certificate as evidence of the above."
