Green List set to be cut over spike in cases

THE Green List of countries deemed safe for non-essential travel may be reduced due to a spike in coronavirus cases across Europe.

The Cabinet will today review the list of 15 countries where people can travel without being asked to undergo two weeks of quarantine upon their return.

It is expected a number of countries will be removed from the list due to an increase in the number of new Covid-19 cases. Senior Government figures confirmed the Cabinet is considering reducing the list to take into account the rise in new cases in certain countries.

The move could mean people who planned to fly to countries deemed safe for travel two weeks ago will now have to self-isolate when they return.

“I don’t think it’s a case of anything being added to the list and some of the locations could be removed from it,” a senior Government source said.

Another Cabinet source warned that people were taking risks by booking holidays in countries on the Green List as they could be removed.

There is concern in Government over a significant increase in new cases in Malta and Cyprus.

Yesterday, European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) figures showed Malta recorded 24.1 new cases per 100,000 people over the past 14 days. This does not include 65 migrants who tested positive after they were rescued from the Mediterranean by the Armed Forces of Malta.

Meanwhile, in Cyprus, figures show there are 12.8 cases per 100,000 people. In Ireland, there are 8.2 cases per 100,000 people.

The Green List was drafted on the basis of the ECDC’s 14-day average of new cases but also takes in other criteria such as epidemiology reports, the capacity of local health services and the rate of the virus being spread among those who have it.

The current list, which was published on July 22, includes Malta, Finland, Norway, Italy, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Slovakia, Greece, Greenland, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marino.

At the time, these countries had similar or lower rates of Covid-19 to Ireland and passengers arriving here from these countries were exempt from rules requiring them to quarantine.

There was some confusion when the list was published as people were still being told it was safer to book holidays in Ireland than travel abroad.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar issued a statement criticising the mixed messages before the Green List was published and insisted travel advice should be changed for these countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs’ travel advice now tells people to take “normal precautions” when travelling to the countries on the list. Previously it said to avoid any unnecessary travel.

At the time the list was published, the Government flagged that it would be reviewed every two weeks.

Anyone arriving from countries not on the list must quarantine for two weeks.

The Government is considering increasing checks at the airports. Ministers have also suggested people arriving from countries with high levels of Covid-19 will have to get a negative test 48 hours before travelling to Ireland.