Spain, Portugal and France 'not at safe level' to be on travel 'green list' - Irish Times

Any figure for England or Wales or Scotland or N. Ireland?

The 48 for Portugal seems odd as they have managed the virus well.

Chris

Hi Chrisso, Thanks for posting. I should point out that ROI and UK have an arrangement or "travel agreement" for years. I don't see this changing at this stage.

Many are getting "jumpy" in ROI although our daily deaths because of Covid-19 are in the small single numbers or nil. But, the number of new cases is rising and if the figures keep increasing we'll be back to square one. Our R figure is at 1.80 at the moment from 0.5 two weeks ago (even an R figure of 1.0 is deemed too high). The Health Advisors have asked for no foreign travel by Irish people except to countries that will get the green light on Monday 20th July. If one travels to one of the "Red" light countries (probably Spain, Portugal etc) there will be an isolation period of 2 weeks on return to Ireland. Travel to Greece and Cyprus will probably have a "green" light.

They actually don’t want anyone to travel and still point out that the government position is that non-essential travel should be avoided- the only thing with the green list is that it negates the requirement to self-isolate. Most travel insurers are indicating they will not cover travel even to the countries in the green list because the government advises no travel.
however there are lots of flights into Ireland from the USA despite the 14 day self isolate requirements which are being ignored by the tourists. Irish pubs closed till August 10th

Jimh is right. The reopening of pubs which should have taken place this week is deferred to mid August and it is possible it will be put back to a later date. Over the past few weeks airports in Ireland have been used by other europeans (and more) for onward journeys to where flights were not plentiful in their own countries. Some of these passengers didn't stay in the airport and spent a few hours in the nearest Irish city. Travellers from the USA have caused a major risk. Also there are Irish people domiciled abroad coming to Ireland for holidays. 

Our R rate is increasing, our daily Covid-death toll is either zero or in small single figures. But, our infection rate is rising. Ireland has to do something fast or we could be back to where we were several months ago.

I heard on this morning's news that the green list won't be released until tomorrow (Tuesday).

Just a comment:- If I informed my Irish neighbours that I've observed all the Covid restrictions etc and I must visit the place I love to spend some time in our holiday home I feel we'd be shunned forever. There is an attitude permeating that everybody should Take One for the Team.

I see today that Barcelona has “urged” its 1,6 million inhabitants to stay home because of rising infection rate - government stopped short of a lockdown though. (Despite the screaming and inaccurate headlines of the daily excess)

We were just starting to get a grip on this ... I honestly feel Spain has opened the borders too soon with an eye on the tourist Euro to try and at least partially offset the disruption caused by the two month shutdown.

The shop is in an area that sees very little British / German / French etc tourism and not that many Madrileños .... we’ve been open since 1st June and touch wood, none of our regular clients have any dread symptoms ... just hoping we can maintain this and avoid another lockdown.  As it stands July / August are our quietist months as our customers all go on holiday (move 7km down the road to Vera Playa) ...  things start picking up again September / October so another lockdown then would be a complete bastard .....

20 workers on one building site in Dublin city centre tested positive for Covid-19 today. The country is getting worried, believe me!

As a follow-up to my original post. Fifteen countries have been chosen on Ireland's "Green List" i.e. countries that on return one does not have to self isolate. Spain is not on that list. 

Point of Information:- No recorded Covid-19 deaths occurred in Ireland over the past 72 hours. But, our infection rate is increasing with 32 cases yesterday alone. The important R figure is 1.8 and looks to be on the increase.

I understand the "Green List" will be reviewed fortnightly. There are implications on travel insurance etc for anybody travelling from Ireland.

The Green List Countries:-

Cyprus

• Malta
• Finland
• Norway
• Italy
• Hungary
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Slovakia
• Greece
• Gibraltar
• Greenland
• Monaco
• San Marino

Interesting that Sweden is not on that list after they were hailed as dealing with the virus properly ..... except I understand their lack of lockdown is having consequences now ...

The important points for me:-

1. Ireland has handled the Covid-19 situation better than most. Most of the population has bought into what was well advertised "We are all in this together . . . " Our R rate was reduced to 0.5 and within two weeks it increased to 1.8. It is a glaring example of how infectious Covid-19 is and blows the twits on Twitter "We'll all die of something" out of the water. 

2. One health expert in ROI has predicted that Covid-19 pandemic will last 3 years. Further outbreaks of the virus are expected over the next few months.  Even if a vaccine is found, it will take 18 months to produce and distribute.

3. There are rumblings of borders closing again in the near future. Alarmingly, there are nine or ten flights per day arriving in Ireland from North America alone. Many holidaymakers from European destinations are expected to start arriving back within days. 

4. The UK is included in the "Red" list along with Spain i.e. travel into Ireland from those countries and you will be obliged to self isolate for 2 weeks. Policing this is another matter. But, stiff justice awaits transgressors. 

5. The bottom line in ROI is that we'll revert to April figures if we don't get our act together and fast.  

6. Just in Passing:- Our pubs must remain shut until 10th August, at least and this date might be extended in the wrong direction. Pubs that serve food are allowed to remain open for the moment, but if regulations are flouted they will be closed.

7. People have been advised not even to travel to countries on the "Green" list. It appears staycations (holidays in Ireland) will be subsidized for months to come. Details are to be released within days.

Like Dario said above, Sweden didn't make the "Green" list. We pointed out the real situation there and in some other countries many months ago.