Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[LAX54]

I can think of three reasons 1) Spite 2) Spite 3) Spite

I see it is for 7 days, which seems a bit pointless, thought it had to be along the lines of 10 or 14 due to the incubation period ?

 

[30907]

It seems FRANCE is about to impose a Mandatory quarantine on all arrivals from the UK, due to the high level of infections (Indian Varient), is this now becoming a bit ridiculous ?
They do not seem bothered about the varient coming into the Country by other means.

Apart from already quarantining all arrivals from India (for a start - I didn't look any further).

 

[TravelDream]

I can think of three reasons 1) Spite 2) Spite 3) Spite

Oh come on! There are more reasons than that.

For one, Marcron has a tough re-election bid coming up and needs to distract from his poor Covid response and poor vaccination programme. It's all le variant anglais.


Edit to add, don't think for one second our own illustrious dear leader wouldn't do it too. Those gunboats sent to Jersey the night before the local elections to 'fight' a few French fisherman on their dinghy-sized boats comes to mind.

 

[ExRes]

Edit to add, don't think for one second our own illustrious dear leader wouldn't do it too. Those gunboats sent to Jersey the night before the local elections to 'fight' a few French fisherman on their dinghy-sized boats comes to mind.

I'm assuming your comment is tongue in cheek, I'm trying to imagine the alternative headline, "British fishermen sail in to blockade French port, French Government spokesman Rene Artois says "C'est la vie, we are happy to see our English cousins bravely expressing their feelings and will not send any of our naval vessels to interfere with the nice English"

 

[TravelDream]

I'm assuming your comment is tongue in cheek, I'm trying to imagine the alternative headline, "British fishermen sail in to blockade French port, French Government spokesman Rene Artois says "C'est la vie, we are happy to see our English cousins bravely expressing their feelings and will not send any of our naval vessels to interfere with the nice English"

Semi-tongue in cheek. The timing was rather convenient.

It's a bit off-topic., butI think the matter would have been better left to the Jersey Government who have their own fisheries protection boats.

 

[Butts]

Semi-tongue in cheek. The timing was rather convenient.

It's a bit off-topic., butI think the matter would have been better left to the Jersey Government who have their own fisheries protection boats.

Was there not a French Navy Vessel there as well ?

 

[island]

I see it is for 7 days, which seems a bit pointless, thought it had to be along the lines of 10 or 14 due to the incubation period ?

On top of this, they have also said that they will not be systematically checking that people are quarantining.

 

[scarby]

You’d have thought countries would be absolutely desperate to revive their stricken international travel and hospitality sector.

Apparently not, well they can just pluck some more funds from the money tree indefinitely. And who cares if countless people dependent on seasonal income are left to scrape by on the bare minimum.

 

[Butts]

So Ireland decides to keep it's Borders closed to arrivals from the UK by Air or Sea without the requirement to quarantine yet you can drive across the Border from Northern Ireland unhindered.

 

[TravelDream]

So Ireland decides to keep it's Borders closed to arrivals from the UK by Air or Sea without the requirement to quarantine yet you can drive across the Border from Northern Ireland unhindered.

This certainly sounds a bit Irish to me

The Irish response has been riddled with poor decision making throughout the pandemic. Why change now?

 

[Butts]

The Irish response has been riddled with poor decision making throughout the pandemic. Why change now?

Because I am supposed to be going early July (off to Belfast Tuesday)

Now going to have to fly into Belfast and "run the border"

 

[island]

So Ireland decides to keep it's Borders closed to arrivals from the UK by Air or Sea without the requirement to quarantine yet you can drive across the Border from Northern Ireland unhindered.

This certainly sounds a bit Irish to me

To be clear – you can travel from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland with a clear PCR test and there is 14 days self-isolation, with option to test to release.

This is based on your journey so a journey via Northern Ireland still attracts these requirements, though (a) enforcement is negligible and (b) it is unclear how long you have to be in NI for before you cease to be covered by the requirement. You would need to be very unlucky to be intercepted by a Garda on your way down.

Unfortunately Irish public opinion is very much pointing the finger at imported cases and variants as the reason the country is spending so long under restrictions, and the government is following that opinion.

 

[Butts]

To be clear – you can travel from Great Britain to the Republic of Ireland with a clear PCR test and there is 14 days self-isolation, with option to test to release.

This is based on your journey so a journey via Northern Ireland still attracts these requirements, though (a) enforcement is negligible and (b) it is unclear how long you have to be in NI for before you cease to be covered by the requirement. You would need to be very unlucky to be intercepted by a Garda on your way down.

Unfortunately Irish public opinion is very much pointing the finger at imported cases and variants as the reason the country is spending so long under restrictions, and the government is following that opinion.

Perhaps the UK should take reciprocal action, but oh no we are honouring the CTA and allowing them in with no restrictions or testing.

Why has the whole of Scotland moved to Amber/Red Status for entry to Jersey ?

Even the Hebrides - most of England is still Green and Wales.

 

[Yew]

Unfortunately Irish public opinion is very much pointing the finger at imported cases and variants as the reason the country is spending so long under restrictions, and the government is following that opinion.

Once again, politics takes priority over pragmatic pandemic plans.

 

[berneyarms]

Reading the last few posts in this thread, I have to say that I am struck by how some of the posters seem to think that they should have an automatic entitlement to travel to/from Ireland, even over and above the travel rights of Irish citizens themselves.

Again, I think it needs restating, that Ireland is an independent country with it's own public health legislation passed without opposition in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament. It is perfectly within the rights of the Irish Government to decide what public health measures are necessary within the State.

People need to stand back from this and remember that Ireland is about six weeks behind the UK in terms of rolling out the vaccinations. The vaccine rollout is ramping up significantly right now and they are currently moving into the 40-50 age group, but there is still a majority of the population who are unvaccinated. Until a significant majority of people are vaccinated the travel restrictions are not going to change here. That has been made clear consistently by the Taoiseach since the start of the year, so I don't know why that still seems to be a surprise to some people.

Travel restrictions into and out of Ireland will ease from the 19th of July when a significant majority of Irish people will be vaccinated and the risk that new imported variants might impose will be massively reduced.

So Ireland decides to keep it's Borders closed to arrivals from the UK by Air or Sea without the requirement to quarantine yet you can drive across the Border from Northern Ireland unhindered.

Firstly if you were to drive over the border, having arrived into NI from GB, you are still required to self-isolate. The land border between NI and Ireland is simply impossible and impractical to close given the massive number of people working and living on different sides of the border.

Firstly if you were to drive over the border, having arrived into NI from GB, you are still required to self-isolate. The land border between NI and Ireland is simply impossible and impractical to close given the massive number of people working and living on different sides of the border.

Because I am supposed to be going early July (off to Belfast Tuesday)

Now going to have to fly into Belfast and "run the border"

I would fervently hope that people would respect Irish public health legislation passed without opposition in the Irish parliament, and wait until the restrictions are lifted in-mid July rather than doing something stupid like that.

Perhaps the UK should take reciprocal action, but oh no we are honouring the CTA and allowing them in with no restrictions or testing.

Why has the whole of Scotland moved to Amber/Red Status for entry to Jersey ?

Even the Hebrides - most of England is still Green and Wales.

The CTA is not enshrined in Irish law, but it is a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Irish governements, and can be over-ridden by public health legislation in any of the countries. It is perfectly within the rights of the Irish governments to implement whatever measures they see as necessary to protect public health in those areas. While the numbers vaccinated here are still not a majority, the Government is quite rightly wary of opening borders to allow international travel unrestricted.

And more pointedly, it is currently illegal for any Irish citizen to travel outside the island of Ireland other than for essential reasons, so whether the UK decides to implement restrictions on people travelling from Ireland or not is irrelevant really, as we cannot travel there.

No Irish government is going to give increased travel rights to travel to/from Ireland to tourists over and above those of Irish citizens themselves resident in the State.

The Irish response has been riddled with poor decision making throughout the pandemic. Why change now?

And the UK, or England in particular, has been perfect? Come off it.

Ireland has taken a more cautious approach quite frankly because anything less would have destroyed our health service. And the majority of the Irish population have consistently supported that cautious approach.

As I point out, Ireland is behind the UK by about six weeks in terms of vaccine rollout. When you take those six weeks into account, we will not be that far behind the UK in terms of relaxing the public health restrictions.

Once again, politics takes priority over pragmatic pandemic plans.

Or rather the Irish government want to get a significant majority of their own population vaccinated before opening up the country to outside visitors. That sounds pragmatic to me to be honest.

The country is going to open up again to tourists, and allow Irish people to travel again, from 19th July - people can surely wait until then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2021 ==

This is the Irish roadmap out of the restrictions:

Public health advice in place right now

www.gov.ie

Post Cabinet Statement - Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead​

From Department of the Taoiseach; Department of Health
Published on 28 May 2021
Last updated on 28 May 2021

• • 1. Your quick guide to the changes
  • 2. What you can do in June
  • 3. What you can do in July (subject to the public health situation at the time)
  • 4. Next steps
  • 5. Supporting the Recovery
  • 6. International travel

Your quick guide to the changes​

From 2 June​

Activity	Guidance
Accommodation services (hotels, B&Bs, hostels and self-catering)	Can reopen with services restricted to overnight guests

From 7 June​

Activity	Guidance
Visitors to your home	If you are an unvaccinated household you can have visitors from 1 other unvaccinated household inside your home. Vaccine bonus remains in place for vaccinated households
Weddings	25 people can attend a wedding celebration or reception
Sport	Outdoor sports matches can take place
Gyms and training	Gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres can reopen for individual training only
Restaraunts and bars	Outdoor services can reopen
Driver Theory tests	25,000 tests per month to take place
Organised outdoor events	Maximum of 100 attendees for the majority of venues. Maximum of 200 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
Live events	Pilot events to take place

From 5 July (subject to the public health situation at the time)​

Activity	Guidance
Visitors to your home	You can have visitors from up to 3 other households inside your home
Weddings	50 people can attend a wedding celebration or reception
Organised indoor events	Maximum of 50 attendees at the majority of venues. Maximum of 100 can attend events in larger venues with strict public health measures in place
Organised outdoor events	Maximum of 200 attendees for the majority of venues. Maximum of 500 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
Personal fitness	Indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6
Bars and restaurants	Indoor services can resume

From 19 July (subject to the public health situation at the time)​

Activity	Guidance
International travel	Current government advice is to avoid non-essential international travel. Depending on the prevailing public health situation at the time, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA

Under consideration for August​

Indoor and outdoor events	Further increases in the numbers permitted
Wedding	Maximum attendance at wedding receptions and celebrations to increase to 100
Public transport	To return to full capacity

Today the government decided to move ahead with the next stage of reopening the economy and society in line with Resilience and Recovery: The Path Ahead plan. Thanks to the extraordinary efforts and support of the Irish people, the government’s plan on the easing of restrictions is working. Society and the economy are recovering slowly and steadily. To maintain our momentum, we need to continue to follow the public health guidelines in these coming weeks. Practising those individual everyday measures is what will secure Ireland’s recovery from the pandemic.
The vaccination programme continues to make significant progress and we are now in a position to lift a number of public health restrictions during June. Plans for further easing of measures over the summer, subject to prevailing public health advice, have also been set out.
The decision is based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), that a cautious and phased reopening continues, with a continuing emphasis on outdoor activity, and sufficient time between phases to assess the impact and ensure that progress in controlling the virus is maintained.
In June, hotels and B&Bs will reopen, along with cinemas and theatres, outdoor services can start in restaurants and bars, and there will be partial reopening of driver theory test services. Increased numbers will be permitted at outdoor organised events, one unvaccinated household will be able to visit another, sports matches can start, and gyms, pools and leisure centres can reopen.
Selected sport and cultural pilot live events will take place in June to assess protective measures.
In July, Ireland will start operating the EU Digital COVID Certificate for travel within the EU and EEA, subject to health advice. There will be no restrictions on travel to or from Northern Ireland. Indoor service can resume in bars and restaurants, indoor group training can start, and household visits will be increased to three households. There will be further increases at weddings and outdoor events.
There are uncertainties and these will continue to be closely monitored by Government over the coming weeks. People should continue to work from home unless necessary to attend in person.

What you can do in June​

Continue to protect yourself and others by following public health advice.

From 2 June​

Accommodation services including hotels, B&Bs, self-catering and hostels can reopen. Services including leisure facilities, indoor restaurant and bar services must be restricted to overnight guests/residents only.

From 7 June​

• the numbers permitted at organised outdoor events can increase to a maximum of 100 for the majority of venues, with a maximum of 200 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
• cinemas and theatres can reopen
• partial reopening of Driver Theory Test Services (25,000 tests per month with related incremental opening of driver test centres)
• visiting indoors in private homes – if you are an unvaccinated household you can have visitors from 1 other unvaccinated household inside your home
• the numbers of guests attending wedding celebration or reception can increase to 25
• outdoor sports matches can recommence
• gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres can reopen for individual training only
• outdoor services in restaurants and bars can recommence
• outdoor amusement/theme parks/funfairs can reopen
• drive-in cinema and drive-in bingo can take place
• swimming lessons and classes can take place

Live events​

In order to prepare for the easing of restrictions, it is intended that a selected small number of sport and cultural pilot live events will take place in June. The purpose of these pilots is to assess logistical arrangements to implement necessary protective measures. This will inform guidance for venues due to reopen in July or with growing numbers in August.
See a list of pilot live events here.

What you can do in July (subject to the public health situation at the time)​

From 5 July​

Subject to maintaining progress with the virus, the following measures will come into effect:

• increased numbers permitted to meet indoors in private homes in line with Level 2 of the Framework – up to 3 other households
• number of guests permitted at wedding receptions/celebrations increased to 50
• organised indoor events can recommence, permitting a maximum of 50 attendees at the majority of venues in groups of up to 6, with arrangements to ensure no intermingling of groups. Max of 100 in larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented (includes business, training, conferences, events in theatres and other Arts events)
• the numbers permitted at outdoor organised events can further increase to a maximum of 200 for the majority of venues, with a maximum of 500 for outdoor stadia/venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000
• indoor training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6
• return of indoor services in restaurants and bars
• indoor activities - bowling alleys, snooker halls, amusement arcades, ice-skating/roller skating rinks and children’s play centres, indoor waterparks, in line with appropriate sectoral guidance

From 19 July​

The current government advice is to avoid non-essential international travel. From 19 July, subject to the prevailing public health situation, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA.

Next steps​

Assuming continued progress, further easing of restrictions will be considered for August:

• further increases in the numbers permitted at both indoor and outdoor events
• maximum attendance at wedding receptions and celebrations to increase to 100
• public transport operating at full capacity

Supporting the Recovery​

Measures will continue to be in place to support the recovery and an Economic Recovery Plan to chart a course through the summer and beyond will be published next week. The Plan will set out a new phase of supports, investment and policies for economic recovery, providing clarity for businesses and employees by setting out the next steps for the emergency pandemic supports, with a focus on opportunities for sustainable growth and job creation.

City Centre Recovery Plan​

Work is ongoing between relevant partners and the County and City Managers Association on initiatives to help businesses and to assist the recovery of city and town centres across the country.

International travel​

Passengers arriving into Ireland from EU/EEA​

From 19 July, subject to the prevailing public health situation, Ireland will operate the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) for travel originating within the EU/EEA.
A DCC will show if a passenger:

• is vaccinated against COVID-19;
• has recovered from COVID-19; or
• has a negative test result

Passengers arriving into Ireland with a DCC will not have to undergo quarantine.
However, passengers with a DCC based on a non-PCR test (for example, antigen), or those arriving without a DCC, will require proof of a negative RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival.
Children aged between 7 and 18 who have not been vaccinated must also have a negative PCR test.
A passenger who has been in a non-EU/EEA country in the 14 days prior to arrival into Ireland will be subject to the rules applying to that country (see below).
All passengers will be advised to observe public health restrictions and to present for post-arrival testing if they develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Passengers arriving into Ireland from outside EU/EEA​

From 19 July, Ireland will also broadly align itself to the EU approach to non-essential travel into the EU from third countries.
To protect its citizens against importation of variants, an ‘emergency brake’ mechanism will be coordinated at EU level to react swiftly to the emergence of a variant of concern or variant of interest.
Government advice will be to avoid travel to a country where the emergency brake has been applied.

Scenario One – journey originates in a country to which the EU has not applied an ‘Emergency Brake’​

If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, no travel-related testing or quarantine will be necessary.
If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• present evidence of a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to arrival into the country
• self-quarantine
• undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE

Scenario 2 – journey originates in a country to which the EU has applied an ‘Emergency Brake’​

If passenger has valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• produce a negative result from a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• undergo self-quarantine
• undergo post-arrival testing - this will be provided through the HSE

If passenger does not have valid proof of vaccination, they will need to:

• produce evidence of a negative result from a PCR test undertaken no more than 72 hours before arrival
• undergo mandatory hotel quarantine
• undergo post-arrival testing

Travel to UK and USA​

The approach to travel outside the EU/EEA will also apply to travel to and from Great Britain and the US.
There will be no restrictions on travel to or from Northern Ireland. Passengers arriving from via Northern Ireland who have been overseas in the 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland, must also comply with these restrictions.

Digital COVID Certificate (DCC)​

The EU Digital COVID Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland.
The certificate – in digital or paper format – is proof that a person has either:

• been vaccinated against COVID-19;
• received a negative test result; or
• recovered from COVID-19

It is important to note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is not a travel document. The possession of an EU Digital COVID Certificate will not be a precondition to travel.
Individual Member States will determine how the DCC will be used as part of national public health measures.

Countries that will use the Digital COVID Certificate​

The system will be used throughout the EU and is also open to Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

 

[TravelDream]

Reading the last few posts in this thread, I have to say that I am struck by how some of the posters seem to think that they should have an automatic entitlement to travel to/from Ireland, even over and above the travel rights of Irish citizens themselves.

Again, I think it needs restating, that Ireland is an independent country with it's own public health legislation passed without opposition in the Oireachtas, the Irish parliament. It is perfectly within the rights of the Irish Government to decide what public health measures are necessary within the State.

People need to stand back from this and remember that Ireland is about six weeks behind the UK in terms of rolling out the vaccinations. The vaccine rollout is ramping up significantly right now and they are currently moving into the 40-50 age group, but there is still a majority of the population who are unvaccinated.

And the UK, or England in particular, has been perfect? Come off it.

Ireland has taken a more cautious approach quite frankly because anything less would have destroyed our health service. And the majority of the Irish population have consistently supported that cautious approach.

As I point out, Ireland is behind the UK by about six weeks in terms of vaccine rollout. When you take those six weeks into account, we will not be that far behind the UK in terms of relaxing the public health restrictions.

I think this is rather unfair.

Ireland has a huge diaspora in the UK. Are they not Irish citizens too?
I think people are pointing out how ludicrous it is that we could all fly to Belfast and cross the land border without issue. Does Covid not cross the land border?
The Irish health service was on its knees before Covid (yes, even compared to the UK). The success of Sinn Fein in the last election is testament to that. (Totally off topic, but the heath service differences are the biggest non-sectarian barrier to reunification).
Ireland is more than 6 weeks behind the UK. The HSE website is clear. They are currently vaccinating those aged 65+, healthcare workers and those aged 16-64 is a risk category. The over 45s can register. https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/rollout/ Current numbers have the UK on about 57% of the population vaccinated with one dose and Ireland 35%. England is vaccinating all those 30+ and Wales those 18+. The UK has a shorter time span between the doses as well. It's 16 weeks for AZ in Ireland vs 12 weeks in Wales and 8 weeks in England.
No government's response has been perfect and there have certainly been many mistakes made here in the UK. I don't think any of the posts above absolve the UK gov of what they've done.

 

[berneyarms]

I think this is rather unfair.

Ireland has a huge diaspora in the UK. Are they not Irish citizens too?
I think people are pointing out how ludicrous it is that we could all fly to Belfast and cross the land border without issue. Does Covid not cross the land border?
The Irish health service was on its knees before Covid (yes, even compared to the UK). The success of Sinn Fein in the last election is testament to that. (Totally off topic, but the heath service differences are the biggest non-sectarian barrier to reunification).
Ireland is more than 6 weeks behind the UK. The HSE website is clear. They are currently vaccinating those aged 65+, healthcare workers and those aged 16-64 is a risk category. The over 45s can register. https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/rollout/ Current numbers have the UK on about 57% of the population vaccinated with one dose and Ireland 35%. England is vaccinating all those 30+ and Wales those 18+. The UK has a shorter time span between the doses as well. It's 16 weeks for AZ in Ireland vs 12 weeks in Wales and 8 weeks in England.
No government's response has been perfect and there have certainly been many mistakes made here in the UK. I don't think any of the posts above absolve the UK gov of what they've done.

I don't think I'm being unfair at all.

Posters advocating that they are entitled to free access to travel to/from Ireland, while Irish citizens living in the State don't, is a nonsense in my view.

The restrictions apply to Irish citizens living anywhere - there's no difference between those living abroad and those living in Ireland. All have to self-isolate/quarantine on entering the State. We can't even leave the State at the moment so I think it's perfectly fair for the Irish parliament to approve public health legislation as it sees fit.

What you're advocating is breaking Irish public health legislation - if you fly to Belfast and then drive across the border to Ireland, you are still required to self-isolate under Irish public health legislation.

I don't disagree that the Irish health service has its problems - that was really my point about the impact of Covid and the need for caution. Not taking that cautious approach would have destroyed it.

I'm afraid that you're wrong about the vaccine rollout. The HSE website is not reporting vaccine rollouts on a real time basis since the recent ransomware attack on the HSE computer systems. The reality is that they have significantly increased in recent weeks.

I'm 51 and I have been vaccinated with my first Pfizer jab last week, and my second is due in three weeks. I'm not in an "at-risk" category. Friends in their late forties have also been called for vaccination. So there is a significant uplift happening presently. The majority of these vaccines currently being administered to the under 60s are the non-AZ type with the much shorter time lag between vaccines, and some of my friends have received the single shot Janssen vaccine, so things are looking up.

 

[Butts]

I don't think I'm being unfair at all.

Posters advocating that they are entitled to free access to travel to/from Ireland, while Irish citizens living in the State don't, is a nonsense in my view.

The restrictions apply to Irish citizens living anywhere - there's no difference between those living abroad and those living in Ireland. All have to self-isolate/quarantine on entering the State. We can't even leave the State at the moment so I think it's perfectly fair for the Irish parliament to approve public health legislation as it sees fit.

What you're advocating is breaking Irish public health legislation - if you fly to Belfast and then drive across the border to Ireland, you are still required to self-isolate under Irish public health legislation.

I don't disagree that the Irish health service has its problems - that was really my point about the impact of Covid and the need for caution. Not taking that cautious approach would have destroyed it.

I'm afraid that you're wrong about the vaccine rollout. The HSE website is not reporting vaccine rollouts on a real time basis since the recent ransomware attack on the HSE computer systems. The reality is that they have significantly increased in recent weeks.

I'm 51 and I have been vaccinated with my first Pfizer jab last week, and my second is due in three weeks. I'm not in an "at-risk" category. Friends in their late forties have also been called for vaccination. So there is a significant uplift happening presently. The majority of these vaccines currently being administered to the under 60s are the non-AZ type with the much shorter time lag between vaccines, and some of my friends have received the single shot Janssen vaccine, so things are looking up.

How is this being enforced ?

Or is at as symbolic as the border restrictions between Scotland and England proved to be ?

 

[TravelDream]

I don't think I'm being unfair at all.

Posters advocating that they are entitled to free access to travel to/from Ireland, while Irish citizens living in the State don't, is a nonsense in my view.

I'm afraid that you're wrong about the vaccine rollout. The HSE website is not reporting vaccine rollouts on a real time basis since the recent ransomware attack on the HSE computer systems. The reality is that they have significantly increased in recent weeks.

I'm 51 and I have been vaccinated with my first Pfizer jab last week, and my second is due in three weeks. I'm not in an "at-risk" category. Friends in their late forties have also been called for vaccination. So there is a significant uplift happening presently. The majority of these vaccines currently being administered to the under 60s are the non-AZ type with the much shorter time lag between vaccines, and some of my friends have received the single shot Janssen vaccine, so things are looking up.

You should be aware that there is a strong anti-lockdown undercurrent on this forum which I don't totally agree with. Some posters would like all restrictions lifted everywhere and not specifically about Ireland.

We'll have to disagree on some points being unfair.

What I have bolded is right, but I am not totally wrong.
The last HSE update was on May 11 and was 28.5%. 35% is the latest estimate.
I could say the same too. My cousin is Cardiff is 18 and has no at-risk/ priority categorisation and he has had his first dose. I have family in Ireland in their 50s who have not even got an appointment yet.

 

[berneyarms]

How is this being enforced ?

Or is at as symbolic as the border restrictions between Scotland and England proved to be ?

It is pretty difficult to enforce I will accept, but maybe I'm old fashioned, in that I would like to think that you or anyone else wanting to visit Ireland would respect the laws of the land, as you would expect me as an Irish citizen to do visiting the UK.

The fact is that it is illegal to do it.

So why not wait until after July 19th?

 

[Cdd89]

No Irish government is going to give increased travel rights to travel to/from Ireland to tourists over and above those of Irish citizens themselves resident in the State.

I wouldn’t have thought the U.K. would have done so either, but they did exactly this for a period of a couple of months back in March.

 

[berneyarms]

You should be aware that there is a strong anti-lockdown undercurrent on this forum which I don't totally agree with. Some posters would like all restrictions lifted everywhere and not specifically about Ireland.

We'll have to disagree on some points being unfair.

What I have bolded is right, but I am not totally wrong.
The last HSE update was on May 11 and was 28.5%. 35% is the latest estimate.
I could say the same too. My cousin is Cardiff is 18 and has no at-risk/ priority categorisation and he has had his first dose. I have family in Ireland in their 50s who have not even got an appointment yet.

There have been at least 300,000 vaccines a week administered here in recent weeks. It is moving much more rapidly than before, and as a result the numbers vaccinated are rapidly improving.

At the end of the day, people need to be patient until a significant majority of people here are vaccinated. That will be the case by the 19th of July when Ireland is opening back up for travel again.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 May 2021 ==

I wouldn’t have thought the U.K. would have done so either, but they did exactly this for a period of a couple of months back in March.

Well Ireland isn't the UK, as I sometimes have to remind people!

 

[Butts]

It is pretty difficult to enforce I will accept, but maybe I'm old fashioned, in that I would like to think that you or anyone else wanting to visit Ireland would respect the laws of the land, as you would expect me as an Irish citizen to do visiting the UK.

The fact is that it is illegal to do it.

So why not wait until after July 19th?

Just to keep you happy I have deferred my Dublin Trip until July 27th

Going to Jersey at the beginning of the month instead.

I am fully vaccinated so not expecting to have to take any tests or isolate when I arrive on the 27th - If I do I will hold you personally responsible.

 

[berneyarms]

Just to keep you happy I have deferred my Dublin Trip until July 27th

Going to Jersey at the beginning of the month instead.

I am fully vaccinated so not expecting to have to take any tests or isolate when I arrive on the 27th - If I do I will hold you personally responsible.

Well that will depend on the law of the land at the time.

There will be a further review of the legislation at the end of June per the Tánaiste yesterday but I would certainly fervently hope that will be the case.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

First update to travel list should be announced later this week. Looking at Europe and US, see below, a few countries are converging with UK rates which have crept up a little since original announcement so maybe US will get added and possibly Italy and Germany (I know they don't want us!). They've also said islands will be treated separately so maybe some of them will be added. The other criteria over variants should get a tick from all the below as its us thats got the variant issue. All these countries have good and improving levels of vaccination rates.


Vietnam should be added to the Red list as it has another mutation reeking havoc.

All in all not expecting much change which is sensible as we need to ensure we don't add anymore reasons to stall the 21st June. Its clear that vaccinations will solve this largely and just need a bit more time to allow other countries to catch up with us and many are actually closing the gap quite fast now.

 

[greyman42]

Vietnam should be added to the Red list as it has another mutation reeking havoc.

It does not seem that long ago that people were singing Vietnams praises and saying why can't we be like them.

 

[berneyarms]

The last HSE update was on May 11 and was 28.5%. 35% is the latest estimate.

Small update re Ireland.

As I expected when I made the post earlier this week, the latest report is that 50% of the Irish adult population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, with over a million vaccines rolled out in May - I'll stand by my estimate of Ireland being six weeks behind the UK in terms of rollout provided that rate of vaccination or higher is maintained in June and July, which is the plan. Hopefully the 19th of July will still be good to go.

CMO warns of risk to unvaccinated from Covid-19

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said that Ireland is in a "positive position" in relation to the coronavirus but "a number of key uncertainties and risks" remain.

www.rte.ie

 

[SouthEastBuses]

I don't think I'm being unfair at all.

Posters advocating that they are entitled to free access to travel to/from Ireland, while Irish citizens living in the State don't, is a nonsense in my view.

The restrictions apply to Irish citizens living anywhere - there's no difference between those living abroad and those living in Ireland. All have to self-isolate/quarantine on entering the State. We can't even leave the State at the moment so I think it's perfectly fair for the Irish parliament to approve public health legislation as it sees fit.

What you're advocating is breaking Irish public health legislation - if you fly to Belfast and then drive across the border to Ireland, you are still required to self-isolate under Irish public health legislation.

I don't disagree that the Irish health service has its problems - that was really my point about the impact of Covid and the need for caution. Not taking that cautious approach would have destroyed it.

I'm afraid that you're wrong about the vaccine rollout. The HSE website is not reporting vaccine rollouts on a real time basis since the recent ransomware attack on the HSE computer systems. The reality is that they have significantly increased in recent weeks.

I'm 51 and I have been vaccinated with my first Pfizer jab last week, and my second is due in three weeks. I'm not in an "at-risk" category. Friends in their late forties have also been called for vaccination. So there is a significant uplift happening presently. The majority of these vaccines currently being administered to the under 60s are the non-AZ type with the much shorter time lag between vaccines, and some of my friends have received the single shot Janssen vaccine, so things are looking up.

Are you allowed to go to NI?
Or is it anywhere outside Ireland where it's prohibited to go?

 

[berneyarms]

Are you allowed to go to NI?
Or is it anywhere outside Ireland where it's prohibited to go?

Residents of Ireland can travel anywhere on the island of Ireland now.

Travel off the island is still illegal except for essential reasons, until July 19th.

 

[TravelDream]

Small update re Ireland.

As I expected when I made the post earlier this week, the latest report is that 50% of the Irish adult population has now received at least one dose of the vaccine, with over a million vaccines rolled out in May - I'll stand by my estimate of Ireland being six weeks behind the UK in terms of rollout provided that rate of vaccination or higher is maintained in June and July, which is the plan. Hopefully the 19th of July will still be good to go.

50% is certainly a big jump from their last estimate, but I suppose the IT cyber attack has caused lots of issues.

I don't think Ireland is '6 weeks behind' though. Wales passed 50% on the 21st of March - 9 weeks ago. The last update was with data from the 27/5 where we were on 84.9%.

''On the target to have 80 per cent of adults vaccinated by the end of June, Dr Henry said “it is hard to say” that it will definitely be met because of supply difficulties.'' https://www.irishtimes.com/news/hea...cines-in-ireland-the-envy-of-europe-1.4579771

He's saying it's difficult to tell if Ireland will get to 80% in almost 9 weeks when we are already at 85%+. Ireland will hit the same problem we did with second doses needing to be completed 'slowing' the first dose programme.