48-hour ban on all flights from Britain owing to fears above new virus strain

48-hour ban on all flights from Britain owing to fears above new virus strain

A 48-hour ban on all flights arriving into the Republic from Britain arrives into force at midnight tonight as part of an unexpected emergency reaction to expanding problem in excess of a new variant of Covid-19 that is described to be spreading swiftly in southeast England.

Ferries will proceed to operate for haulage. No journey constraints will utilize amongst the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan reported it was very likely the 48-hour ban on flights from Britain will be extended.

Mr Ryan also mentioned it is not still known whether the current sharp increase in situations in Ireland has any connection to a a lot more infectious strain of Covid 19 which has been claimed in Britain.

“I imagine realistically it is challenging to see that issues are going to change in the future several days. It is far more a overview of the mechanisms that are becoming utilised or how it is doing work but I believe there is not a high chance that we would be returning to a plan of flights straight absent.”

He stated the Govt will use “flexible mechanisms” to deal with the repatriation of Irish citizens who had been, for case in point, transiting through the Uk on their way home.

He explained ferries will keep on to work for freight traffic which was wanted for “essential food offer chain and other good reasons.”

Requested how he would halt men and women boarding ferries if they can get accessibility, he mentioned there would be “co-operation with the ferry corporations in terms of how they deal with it.”

Northern Eire

Mr Ryan mentioned the Stormont government is “fully up to pace with what we are accomplishing.”

The North’s Ministers were thanks to fulfill tonight to examine worries about the “aggressive new strain” of Covid-19 accountable for a sharp rise in cases in England.