Government ‘has confused public’ over foreign trips
Green List of countries to be published tomorrow but people are still advised not to go abroad
THE Government has been accused of confusing the public after it emerged people will still be advised not to travel abroad — even though a ‘Green List’ of countries is to be published tomorrow.
The Government now says the intention of the list is that anyone travelling to Ireland from one of these countries will not be asked to restrict their movements for 14 days — but it is no longer the case that people will be advised they can travel to or holiday in these Green List countries.
This would appear to contradict comments last week by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar when he said the list would include countries where you will be “no more likely” to get Covid-19 than if you spent a weekend in Dublin and Killarney.
Last Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the Green List would mean people travelling from those countries would not be asked to restrict their movements.
“Really that’s the only change we’re talking about here,” he said.
A senior government source told the Sunday Independent yesterday: “Publishing the Green List should not be seen as an open invitation for people to go and book holidays. It represents a list of countries that have a similar infection rate. The overarching advice will remain the same and that is do not undertake any unnecessary foreign travel.”
This has sparked confusion in government circles, with one senior figure pointing out that it is “inconsistent” with the original and widely stated intention that the Green List would be countries which Irish people could travel to and from without having to restrict their movements.
This raised the possibility among the public that they would be able to take foreign holidays in coming months.
As leading medics advised against all unnecessary travel, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Sunday Independent that the messaging on foreign travel is “confusing and contradictory”.
Spokespersons for Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney referred all queries to the Taoiseach’s office.
Micheal Martin’s spokeswoman said: “The Government will decide on countries included on the Green List based on the status of the disease in other countries. The list will then be reviewed once a fortnight. The intention is that anyone travelling to Ireland from a Green List country will not be asked to restrict movement for 14 days.”
The Green List is likely to include fewer than 20 countries which have rates of new cases similar or lower than Ireland. Countries such as Norway, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Italy and Latvia may be included, but Britain, the US, Spain, France, Portugal and Germany are unlikely to make the cut.
Ms McDonald said efforts to beat the virus should not be undermined by a “poorly thought-out” approach to foreign travel. “The Government has no coherent plan and we see a contradictory and confusing message to the public. The suggestion that a Green List will be published tomorrow but advice against all non-essential foreign travel will remain in place makes little sense,” she said.
“We believe there should be a graduated reopening of foreign travel at an appropriate time — subject to public health advice. In addition to a Green List, we believe there should be a ‘red list’ published.”
She said those arriving from high-risk ‘red list’ areas should be required to pay for their Covid-19 testing and accommodation at designated isolation facilities.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said from a “public health perspective” people should avoid non-essential foreign travel this year.
Dr Catherine Motherway, an intensive care specialist at University Hospital Limerick, told the Sunday Independent: “My advice is don’t travel unless you have to, and if you do, that’s an individual decision. I think that it’s too difficult to predict what will happen, anywhere in the world. This is not the time.”
Dr Jack Lambert, an infectious diseases consultant at the Mater, said the authorities ought to be focusing on the indigenous community spread of the virus rather than overseas travel.
“This is not Americans coming in from Texas with Covid-19 — the problem is Covid-19 is circulating in the community,” he added.
“The big problem is still Ireland, and the young adults that are spreading the virus. How do we tackle that? The police won’t work, so we have to think about how we can address that. That is the issue we need to focus on.”
Dublin GP Maitiu O Tuathail, who said he treated two overseas visitors at a Covid-19 test hub last week who were positive, said: “I personally think the fact people are allowed to enter the country without restriction is madness.”
However, Professor Sam McConkey said there is a fine balance between maintaining open borders which are the essential for the economy and necessary travel, and protecting public health. “But we can control inward migration more carefully by closer monitoring and offering testing to incoming visitors,” he added.
‘In addition to a Green List, we believe there should be a red list’