Are we there yet? Your second Travel Megathread (threadbans in OP}

Uptheduff · 20-05-2021 03:56PM

My in laws live in the UK and have still not met our 14 month old. They are immune compromised and were practically housebound since the start of the pandemic until they got their vaccination. Now that the UK are soon to be allowing holiday makers to go abroad we thought it would be possible for them to come over. Logistically it makes more sense for them to travel to us than vice versa.

But.. every website we search gives completely different information about "the rules". Gov.uk gives contradictory advice saying that everyone entering Ireland has to do mandatory hotel quarantine (not true) it also, in a separate section says if your travelling within the CTA you only need a negative test.

The Irish DFA says incoming visitors from the UK can quarantine at their destination address which seems reasonable. The Stenalines site basically says there are no rules at all, hop on a ferry you'll be grand. So there's no clear outline of what's expected/allowed. My in-laws have become very fearful and paranoid over the past year and they are now convinced they'd be deported or forced into an extortionate hotel if they try to travel. We'd all be happy for them to quarantine at our house for their whole trip if it's necessary, they just want to finally see their family.

What exactly is the protocol for people coming from the UK in this scenario?

goingnowhere · 20-05-2021 04:04PM

UK to IE
Must have a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours when checked on arrival
Must complete the contact tracing form
Must self isolate for at least 5 days, you then have a choice to get a another PCR test and if clear you can escape
If you choose not to get a PCR test after day 5 its the full 14 days
If you arrive without a valid PCR to the hotel with you until that is sorted out (thats comes with a fine, but if its obvious its down to a delayed flight/ferry etc common sense should apply)

A full PCR cert is required, not the NHS SMS negative text

In short don't travel unless absolutely necessary, wait till the Government update travel guidance

Those who are fully vaccinated are excepted from hotel quarantine (save where no valid PCR is produced on arrival), the UK was never on the hotel quarantine list.

Going back, nothing is required and your in laws can avoid the €2000 fine for non esential travel by declaring they are not Irish resident and are returning home

Ms.Sunshine · 20-05-2021 04:05PM

kilns wrote: »

Wouldnt it be ironic if Ireland allowed freedom of movement between the UK and Ireland before freedom of movement to other EU countries.......

Id say this will happen ! Are the uk free to travel for
The 21st of May of am I imaging that?

Lumen · 20-05-2021 04:11PM

Also, if they come via Belfast they won't need a PCR test but they will still need to quarantine.

At least that's my reading of it.

20-05-2021 04:13PM

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Sure, here's the link you may find useful next time you're over in Spain: https://en.specsavers.es/

So that's a no then on that claim

Uptheduff · 20-05-2021 04:20PM

@goingnowhere where is this info from? I think my in laws are relying mainly on UK sites which don't seem to have correct info for Ireland.

goingnowhere · 20-05-2021 04:25PM

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

The UK consider Ireland a domestic destination for all intents so subject to regional restrictions in the UK regions (its still against the rules to travel from Northern Ireland to Ireland for example, not that anyone is stopping you) they don't care if you travel to/from Ireland. The Irish government though wants to know

Jim_Hodge · 20-05-2021 04:26PM

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-from-a-country-that-is-not-on-the-covid-19-travel-advice-list/

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland

Both government sites are clear enough

bb1234567 · 20-05-2021 04:51PM

Sorry I'm not of much help, but I recently moved to London and was trying to research what rules were in place for my family who might come over to visit. What kind of documents they'd need for entering Uk and then reentering Ireland, negative tests, quarantines etc. I was coming for work and no prospect of international travel due towork hours so most of these issues weren't applicable to me. It's hopelessly contradictory and confusing advice from both irish and UK government. Was left with more questions than answers. Honestly I think most country governments are just trying to make travellers feel confused and uncertain in order to put them off unless it's completely necessary. We're just going to hold off on any visiting between countries until advice is clearer and governments are ****ting themselves less about international travel, for now it just still seems like a minefield. I can't get a straight answer out of anybody, out of all of my colleagues moving to London with me absolutely nobody seems to know what rules are in place for travel between UK and Ireland.

mmclo · 20-05-2021 04:56PM

‘No happy ending’ as EU countries and MEPs clash over coronavirus certificates

- MEPs argue it should be a travel pass that allows people to move around the bloc without further hurdles such as quarantines and for COVID tests to be affordable.

https://www.politico.eu/article/no-happy-ending-as-eu-countries-and-meps-clash-over-coronavirus-travel-certificates/

Maybe no Green Cert at all!

Tazz T · 20-05-2021 05:01PM

kilns wrote: »

Wouldnt it be ironic if Ireland allowed freedom of movement between the UK and Ireland before freedom of movement to other EU countries.......

It would. And it would also form a brilliant argument in an official complaint to the EC that our rules on travel are 'disproportionate' as we are allowed to travel in a country outside the EU, but not within the EU /drops mic/.

Tazz T · 20-05-2021 05:22PM

dalyboy wrote: »

Contractions on a number of reports about Portugal.

I see on the NI independent they’re saying Portugal is likely to be on their “green” list .

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/northern-ireland-domestic-travel-portugal-b1850825.html%3famp

Guess we will know soon whose who on the NI traffic light system.

Portugal made it https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/stormont-ministers-give-green-light-to-further-wave-of-covid-19-relaxations-1130105.html?fbclid=IwAR1MgI5EXMZ0rg-Bto4nGviYioCDE5L__vi4vFKxbv7tNGJuodfQLhKsB2w

Beasty · 20-05-2021 05:28PM

Threads merged

Skippette · 20-05-2021 05:43PM

mmclo wrote: »

‘No happy ending’ as EU countries and MEPs clash over coronavirus certificates

- MEPs argue it should be a travel pass that allows people to move around the bloc without further hurdles such as quarantines and for COVID tests to be affordable.

https://www.politico.eu/article/no-happy-ending-as-eu-countries-and-meps-clash-over-coronavirus-travel-certificates/

Maybe no Green Cert at all!

Don't lose hope yet! Just spotted this on Twitter, there's a thread:

https://twitter.com/ShonaMurray_/status/1395397863111229443?s=19

Break: Irish deputy PM @LeoVaradkar says agreement likely on Green certs
“With a view to it being signed off by heads of state and gov next week - so it looks like we’re getting there in terms of having that ready in terms of having that ready and available in a few weeks time”

“There will be a legal obligation on governments and member states to provide it to citizens, but each state will have a lot of flexibility as to how they use it.”
“So we would only consider using it for international travel for example.”

However on festivals like @electricpicnic he says “it doesn’t prevent organizers of festivals from seeking to use the Digital Green Cert. #DigitalGreenCertificate

Says some countries may require full vaccination and a test; some may require either/or” - a lot of ms flexibility. @euronews #DigitalGreenCertificate

titan18 · 20-05-2021 05:45PM

Full vaccination and a test just makes travel difficult and more expensive for everyone (which thus rules it out for some people). I really hope no country enforces tests for vaccinated people.

IQO · 20-05-2021 06:15PM

https://twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420297357107202

Tazz T · 20-05-2021 06:17PM

titan18 wrote: »

Full vaccination and a test just makes travel difficult and more expensive for everyone (which thus rules it out for some people). I really hope no country enforces tests for vaccinated people.

Ireland will.

M_Murphy57 · 20-05-2021 06:22PM

Jim_Hodge wrote: »

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b4020-travelling-to-ireland-from-a-country-that-is-not-on-the-covid-19-travel-advice-list/

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ireland

Both government sites are clear enough

From the NI website:

"Essential travel within the Common Travel Area
From Monday 24 May, travel within the Common Travel Area will be permitted. Essential reasons will no longer be required....

New exemptions from 24 May
A new exemption from self-isolation will be available from Monday 24 May.

This means you will not have to self-isolate for 10 days if you are arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area to visit family or friends, however the public health advice is to take a pre-departure Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test, and then a LFD test on day 2 and day 8 post arrival in NI."

Are they saying you are advised to take an LFD or that you are legally obliged to at peril of being turned around ?

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-within-common-travel-area

Edited to make it clear this is even after non essential travel is permitted

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:22PM

IQO wrote: »

https://twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420297357107202

Did they just miss vaccination here or does it actually not count, or do you need vaccination and below

https://mobile.twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420301916360712

Skippette · 20-05-2021 06:24PM

titan18 wrote: »

Did they just miss vaccination here or does it actually not count, or do you need vaccination and below

https://mobile.twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420301916360712

The Certificate will be proof that a person has received a vaccine, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19 and has natural immunity.

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:25PM

Skippette wrote: »

The Certificate will be proof that a person has received a vaccine, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19 and has natural immunity.

Ya, but then that next tweet leaves out vaccination and has the other two, so one of them is inaccurate

Skippette · 20-05-2021 06:25PM

titan18 wrote: »

Did they just miss vaccination here or does it actually not count, or do you need vaccination and below

https://mobile.twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420301916360712

It was in the post above that one you linked.

Happy days, sweet jesus couldn't do a summer of weather like today!

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:28PM

Press conference for above started like 30 mins ago

Skippette · 20-05-2021 06:30PM

titan18 wrote: »

Ya, but then that next tweet leaves out vaccination and has the other two, so one of them is inaccurate

I think they are just spelling out all the options. So you're vaccinated.....or.....you have a choice of 3...1. PCR, 2. Antigen or 3. Natural immunity.

All going well the member states will not require a test on top of vaccination and they will accept Antigen. Major cost difference. Keeping the fingers crossed!

normanoffside · 20-05-2021 06:30PM

NPHET won't be happy that we'll have to accept Antigen tests

https://twitter.com/EPPGroup/status/1395420301916360712

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:30PM

Comes into force on 1st July

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:38PM

Sounds like a country can only introduce restrictions on the certificate if they meet some sort of ECDC requirements. They can't go lone wolf on it

Corholio · 20-05-2021 06:39PM

Did anyone come across a list of NI's green/amber/red countries? It mightn't have been published yet either though.

titan18 · 20-05-2021 06:50PM

Here's the press release anyway.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210517IPR04111/eu-digital-covid-certificate-provisional-deal-between-parliament-and-council

He mentioned July 1st in the press conference but can't see it anywhere else

eltonyio · 20-05-2021 06:57PM

Interesting report on it here: https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/20/deal-reached-to-introduce-an-eu-wide-covid-travel-pass

This says that one dose will suffice for it. Great news if so, but I can't see that being right is it?

Bloomberg is also reporting that 'all 27 governments will be required to waive quarantine requirements for those inoculated with shots approved by the bloc’s drugs regulator' (would seem to be the timely end of MHQ so) and it also looks like a serious injection of cash into making tests affordable .

Good news all round if it all comes to pass.

Are we there yet? Your second Travel Megathread (threadbans in OP}

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