NI split on quarantine for British visitors
NORTHERN Ireland should act to prevent travellers from Britain spreading coronavirus, Stormont’s deputy first minister has said.
British visitors are expected to quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the Republic of Ireland.
First Minister Arlene Foster wants to preserve free movement for the sake of business and family life but her powersharing deputy, Michelle O’Neill, urged the alignment of rules north and south of the border.
The Sinn Féin vice-president said: ‘It is my view that, given that this is where the biggest risk comes from, we need to act on that.’ She said she intended to discuss the matter with fellow Stormont ministers and the island of Ireland needed to act as one unit.
‘Probably the biggest risk to us is travel from Britain. It is something I am concerned about.’
The number of deaths recorded in Northern Ireland remains at 556, the Department of Health reported on Monday. The infection threat has been driven down over recent weeks.
Meanwhile, the Alliance Party’s health spokeswoman, Paula Bradshaw, yesterday said she cancelled her family holiday to Italy hours after saying she would disregard official guidance and travel.
Ms Bradshaw said she was planning on travelling from Belfast to Italy via Dublin for a family holiday. However, within hours of speaking on both RTÉ and the BBC, Ms Bradshaw posted on social media that she would now not be travelling abroad. ‘Like many people, I have a holiday booked, in my case to Italy. I should be clear when I said I would operate within the guidance, that obviously includes not travelling if the regulations and guidance at the time state that I should not do so. That is currently the case.’