Those travelling from orange zones won’t have to restrict movements, provided they have a recent negative test.
The EU Traffic Light system for international travel comes into effect from 12.01am on Sunday, November 8.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has stated that the exact restrictions needed by those in orange and red zone countries will be finalised in the coming weeks, but until then, those arriving from orange zone countries do not need to restrict their movements if they have a negative coronavirus test within the three days prior to travel.
Those travelling from red zone countries still have to quarantine for two weeks, but the goal is to implement a system that will end their restricted movements as soon as possible, provided they have a negative covid test five days after arriving.
As previously reported, the traffic light system works as follows:
Countries with less than 4% positive tests over the previous week and fewer than 25 cases in 100,000 people will be Green coloured. These passengers do not need to restrict movements upon arrival in Ireland.
Countries with 4% or more positive tests over the previous week but fewer than 50 cases in 100,000 people OR less than 4% positive tests over the previous week but between 25 and 150 cases in 100,000 people will be Orange coloured. From Sunday, November 8, these passengers will be able to avoid the restriction by undergoing a validated pre-departure test for the virus. Until then, these passengers will need to restrict their movements for two weeks upon arrival.
Any country with 4% or more positive tests in the previous week and 50 or more cases in 100,000 people OR more than 150 cases per 100,000 people will be Red coloured. These passengers will need to restrict their movements for two weeks upon arrival.
According to the ECDC findings at the time of writing (Thursday, November 5), there are no countries in the EU in the Green zone, with the closest being Finland (50.5 per 100,000), Estonia (75.3 per 100,000) and Norway (88.8 per 100,000). Ireland’s rate at the time of writing is 220.1 per 100,000.
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