Minister should enforce self isolation – Kealy
HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has been urged to enforce regulations already on the statute books to ensure visitors to Ireland self-isolate when they land in the country.
Aontú General Election candidate Becky Kealy made the call and said that this was about ensuring that the country would not have to enter another lock-down.
Concern has been growing over the past number of days about visitors travelling from the US – where there are well over 3million cases now – and not self isolating as ‘recommended’ by the Government.
“According to Section 10 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act (2020), which amends Section 31 of the Health Act (1947), the Minister for Health is empowered to enforce any such restrictions as necessary to safeguard the public health from safeguards arising from COVID-19,” Ms Kealy pointed out.
“It is fully within Stephen
Donnelly’s power to step in and take precautionary measures to prevent a spike in Coronavirus cases.”
Ms Kealy, a chemist by profession, said this was not about ‘jeopardising the tourist industry or demonising foreigners’.
“A self-isolation order for those coming into the country is simply asking them to be part of the national effort to combat COVID-19 whilst they visit our shores. Let’s not undo the sacrifices we have made with recklessness. We have sacrificed so much to flatten the curve – let’s not force ourselves to make more.”