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Afghanistan and Egypt among five countries to be added to hotel quarantine list

The five countries will go on the list from Tuesday morning.

THE MINISTER FOR Health has said that five additional countries will be added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list from next Tuesday.

The additional countries to be added to the list are: Afghanistan, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Trinidad and Tobago.

This means that passengers travelling from these states, or having travelled through these states, must enter mandatory hotel quarantine when travelling into Ireland after 4am next Tuesday, 8 June.

There are now a total of 51 countries on the list.

Due to concerns about the new variant of Covid-19, the Delta variant, people travelling from Great Britain have been “strongly advised” by the Department of Health to avail of free testing five days after arrival in Ireland, and to strictly adhere to the legal requirements for home quarantine.

Earlier today, public health officials warned of indications that there had been several cases of the Delta variant identified in the Kilkeel area of Co Down.

There have been 173 Covid-19 cases detected through MHQ – with 163 among residents, nine among staff, and one case of Covid in an unaccompanied minor, as of last Tuesday.

In total, 4,400 hotel residents have gone through the system.

Of these cases detected, there were 59 cases of variants of concern: 47 B117, and 12 B1351 or P1 variants.

Even if a country is not on the mandatory hotel quarantine list, it is a legal requirement that all travellers to Ireland must have a negative or ‘not detected’ result from a Covid-19 PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before arrival to Ireland.

It is also a legal requirement that those from non-designated countries also observe 14 days of home quarantine. This 14-day period can only be shortened if you receive a not-detected PCR test result taken no less than five days after arrival.

Last week, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly sought to extend mandatory hotel quarantine until 31 July, as the legislation was due to run out next week.

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    Mute Ronano LeTucci
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:13 PM

    Thats put me right off my fortnight in Afghanistan! Not worth it it!

    196
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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Jun 5th 2021, 2:11 AM

    @Ronano LeTucci: thank goodness. Felt sorry for the Gardai dealing with all their stag dos.

    38
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    Mute BRIAN MCCARTHY
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:11 PM

    Bu11 5hit media drip feeding under instructions from gov. No MHQ for those vaccinated as proven through high court cases all “settled” out of court inc awarded fees for those who challenged MHQ. Media don’t report that.
    Almost becoming communist politics at this stage. We need to open up now the elderly and vulnerable have been vaccinated.
    Way too Conservative compared to rest of EU

    84
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:15 PM

    @BRIAN MCCARTHY: sure lets just roll out the red carpet for the new variants then like we did at the start and see what happens…

    51
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    Mute BRIAN MCCARTHY
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:18 PM

    @Paul Cunningham: I thought the vaccinations worked ?? Or is there something the medics are not telling us ?

    53
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:47 PM

    @BRIAN MCCARTHY: Vaccinations are like seatbelts; they will certainly go a long way to helping you, but if you still drive 200km/h in the oncoming lane you will still get killed regardless of how effective it is. Even under perfect conditions if 100 people are in a bar and one of them has one of the new variants, theres still a chance of the virus spreading among 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 of the people. The chances are greatly reduced if everyone is vaccinated, but its not foolproof. Taking precautions is still a more effective strategy as opposed to getting complacent with vaqccinations.

    31
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    Mute BRIAN MCCARTHY
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    Jun 5th 2021, 12:17 AM

    @Paul Cunningham: okaaaaaay. You’ve got this sh€t zhow sorted so. Lock down every border. Worldwide. Ground flights. NO VARIANTS in or out. Problem ?. The world collapses no food in or out, self sufficient hippy lifestyle, then we eat each other !!! DREAM ON PAL !

    28
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    Mute JG
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    Jun 5th 2021, 5:33 AM

    @BRIAN MCCARTHY: oh…sweet Jayzus would ya shut up with yer half baked “they’re all against me” muck. Grow up and stop being a Richard.

    24
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    Mute Brian Shea
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:09 PM

    Are US troops still landing in Shannon ?

    34
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    Mute Michael Duffy
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:48 PM

    That’s my trip to Kabul off this summer so. Devastated.

    33
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    Mute Munster1
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    Jun 5th 2021, 12:04 AM

    Pointless when the Indian variant capital Britain isnt on the list.

    55
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    Mute Kiern Mcx
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    Jun 5th 2021, 12:14 AM

    @Munster1: I swear they’re just ticking random boxes at this stage, sure only Turkey is on our MHQ from all of Europe.. and where is all our direct flight destinations from this island.. I feel inclined to think that they know what they are doing but gosh you wouldn’t know with these countries; making it up as they go along?

    17
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    Mute Siobhan Mc Garrell Mackenzie
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    Jun 5th 2021, 1:52 AM

    Well there goes my holiday plans… NOT… and everyone from the UK is welcome.. no testing.. no quarantine when they get here… !!

    27
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    Mute Anthony Reilly
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    Jun 5th 2021, 9:39 AM

    @Siobhan Mc Garrell Mackenzie: You need a negative pcr test before you arrive from the UK

    7
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    Mute Anthony Reilly
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    Jun 5th 2021, 9:41 AM

    @Siobhan Mc Garrell Mackenzie: That’s strange, I could of swore I had to have a negative pcr test and restrict my movement for 14 day when I arrived from the UK recently….

    6
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    Mute Seán
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    Jun 5th 2021, 7:57 AM

    UK is riddled with Delta variant and UK is the country where we get most of our incoming travelers from whether Irish citizens or not but no MHQ for them. Absolute farce. Its like trying to keep your house from catching fire by vigorously monitoring all neighbours in the estate while ignoring the house next door which is fully ablaze.

    27
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    Mute Kiern Mcx
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:34 PM

    Makes no sense these countries that are on and are not on MHQ.. I mean why was Palestine on it a couple of weeks ago…?? Need some journalists asking critical questions to NPHET

    24
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    Mute Kiern Mcx
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:37 PM

    @Kiern Mcx: Little to no sense**

    5
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    Mute Michael Healy
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    Jun 5th 2021, 1:59 AM

    Jaysus I was looking forward to a two week break in kabul. Guess I’m gonna have to do a staycation at home in a county that most resembles it, a few days in Leitrim it so then lads…

    18
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    Mute Ciaran Farrelly
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    Jun 4th 2021, 11:59 PM

    I so wanted to go Afghanistan for 2 weeks but afraid I won’t be able to get back home now. Looks like it’s 2 weeks in Athenry instead lol.

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    Mute Sean Oige
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    Jun 5th 2021, 1:45 AM

    @Ciaran Farrelly: I feel your pain….

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    Mute Anthony Doyle
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    Jun 5th 2021, 1:59 AM

    @Ciaran Farrelly: is there a difference?

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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Jun 5th 2021, 8:01 AM

    @Anthony Doyle: Afghanistan is more civilised

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    Mute whitewater
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    Jun 5th 2021, 4:13 PM

    Well… that’s my honeymoon in Afghanistan ruined.

    2
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