The Dublin Government today published a 'green list' of 13 countries whose travelers are exempted from quarantine when they arrive in Ireland and which exclude countries like Portugal, Spain, France and the neighboring United Kingdom.
Out of the Irish list was also the United States, whose visitors must continue to restrict movement when arriving at any port or airport on the island with a 14-day self-isolation period.
The list is made up of 13 European countries and two territories (Gibraltar and Greenland), which have a number of coronavirus cases per 100.000 population equal to or less than Ireland: Malta, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Greece, Monaco and San Marino.
The Irish government released the decision overnight after a long meeting that began on Tuesday night and showed internal divisions between ministers who make up the two big Irish parties: centrist Fianna Fáil and Christian Democrat Fine Gael, and the green ones.
Some ministers considered that the new measure could cause confusing messages to citizens because the government's official position corresponds to the determinations of the Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
The organization continues to advocate that travel abroad should not be made, whatever the destination.
"If the recommendation on travel to countries included on the 'green list' is not different from that of other countries (on travel), then it would be better if there was no 'green list'", warned the deputy prime minister and former head of government, the Christian Democrat Leo Varadkar.
Even so, the Dublin executive, after the publication of the list, released a statement stating that "the recommendations on public health remain the same" as the pandemic "is not over" adding that "the safest is not to travel".
The Government also says it will reinforce the quarantine surveillance measures (14 days) that must be complied with by all passengers entering the country "from any destination", even if not on the list, a measure that must also be complied with by the residing in the Republic of Ireland.
Dublin also indicated that it would review the status and composition of the “green list” within two weeks.
Official figures show that there were no deaths by covid-19 in the last 24 hours in that country.
The death toll from the disease in the Republic of Ireland is 1.753 and 36 new infections have been detected since Tuesday.
The total number of covid-19 cases in the country is 25.802.
Dublin health authorities have warned that there is an increase in the “virus reproduction rate” and an “increase in the incidence of the disease among the youngest”, a situation that could cause up to 170 new cases in the coming weeks.
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