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

Wallander wrote: »

This pattern has held since last summer - the European countries with the biggest tourist inflows seem to always have some of the lowest infection rates. Touristy areas in them (Greek islands, Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol) seem to fare even better. Malta has opened up to tourists and has less than 10 cases per day on average, but hey, they vaccinated much faster than us despite also being EU, sneaky!



The infection hotspots generally seem to be industrial areas (Northern France, Northern Italy, Northern England) which does make you wonder if cultural and behavioral factors are more significant.

I'd be more inclined to think it was seasonal factors. Hot weather. People outdoors. Regardless of what some will say, the virus does not do well at high temps, especially on surfaces heated by the sun.

pc7 wrote: »

Honestly no one knows yet, we 'should' hopefully know Friday after the cabinet meet.

MM quoted in the Irish Times today.
"We're not doing anything in a hurry here".
"Steady as she goes"
"Aviation would be slower to return than most European countries"
"People just need to hold it...they have lost a lot of income".

So we have the Taoiseach who's income has not been impacted advised by medics and academics who's incomes have also not been impacted telling those who's livelihoods have been devasted and who will struggle to hold their jobs over the winter to "hold it".
The guy couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag.

ngunners wrote: »

That's good but not sure if the vaccination rates are up to date for Ireland? We're definitely lagging behind in the other areas though.

I think the hack has slowed them down publishing vaccination numbers. That’s said we were in the bottom half of the league table before the hack, probably suits the HSE to blame the hack for falling yet further behind

At this stage this nonsense of leaking half baked ideas and random dates is driving me demented. I understand that there are a number of complex factors in play regarding travel restrictions. That's fine, and reasonable.

However, in the past week we've heard leaks and speculation coming out from the Government varying between the start of July to mid-August. I can only presume at this stage that this is yet again the Government floating ideas out in the public to see what will be acceptable before they make their decision. I have pretty much accepted that it will be September before I get home for the first time since 2019. That's fine. But this utter garbage of floating random dates and ideas is ludicrous at this stage. If the government wants to close travel until the later end of August just tell people that and make a decision. If they want to open up in July just make a decision and tell people. Ultimately we are all adults and can understand much of the decision making, whether we agree with it or not. But we need to be treated with a modicum of respect and be told what the actual plan is, not through leaks and speculation, but by the Government themselves.

Most governments are being cautious about their plans. But this leaking nonsense, which has been going on with regards travel for months now, is a particularly Irish issue. There are of course leaks and speculation in other countries, but at least where I am on the continent it's at best a week before a major announcement, and generally pretty consistent in terms of dates, rules etc. The stuff out of the Irish Government is months long, inconsistent, and at odds with itself. We have Martin yesterday saying that it could be mid-July before indoor dining is resumed, yet today speculation foreign travel is allowed in mid-July. Maybe it's just me, but this seems contradictory. Just be honest and straight with people, the constant leaks and speculation are far more damaging than the fall out from telling people an uncomfortable truth.

faceman wrote: »

On the travel cert rollout in Ireland….

Examiner is reporting it will be rolled out end of July

Breakingnews.ie is reporting it will be mid July. (And they’re owned by the examiner!)

The indo is reporting it’s in jeopardy because of hse hack!

Roderic O Gorman was on with CB this morning, seemed quite positive about the travel cert being up and running in July

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Roderic O Gorman was on with CB this morning, seemed quite positive about the travel cert being up and running in July

With all the wildly differing commentary right now we're not going to know for sure anything til Friday and even then it'll be half-assed. I can see the 2k fine for non-essential being extended to the beginning of July. After that it doesn't really matter about the cert (as long as you're prepared to pay for PCRs).

Valhallapt wrote: »

If my wife has an appointment for a medical checkup, does that cover me and the children to travel??

If I'm not mistaken I think it only covers you to travel with her, not the children.

jellies wrote: »

Not having a go at the original poster but I couldn't agree more. Yesterday my daughter was moved by the guards with her four friends while sitting on a bench at the canal drinking coffee. I mean WTF is going on. It is a complete hysterical overreaction and overreach by the state.

Ugh... its just ridiculous....

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

The indo is an absolute rag. Worse than a red top.

They've a headline today saying (something like) "hospitalizations increase as fear of indian variant grows"

Implying of course a drastic uptick in hospitalizations in ireland as a direct result of the indian variant.

In the article itself however it says:
-Hospitalisatons have increased from 124 to 127 over the course of 2 weeks
-They note this is not a significant change and
-State there is no known connection to the indian variant and people in hospital in ireland

Meanwhile a load of grannies will read that and go back to cowering indoors terrified to leave the house.

I'd agree.

Though tbf its not the "terrified grannies" who post these types tabloid style headlines in absolute hysterics that we're all going to be locked up forever or wtte.

Many of the 'leaks' mentioned on here and which many get irate over - are frequently little more than journalistic speculation based on the flimiseist of actual information.

Does anyone know what the position is on kids and MHQ?

Our trip last year was transferred to this Summer. Looks like husband and I will be vaccinated but obviously not the 2 kids and we are supposed to go to France end of July.

My head is melted trying to decide what to do tbh... small problems I know I know. But if anyone had any insight I'd be thrilled.

ellee wrote: »

Does anyone know what the position is on kids and MHQ?

Our trip last year was transferred to this Summer. Looks like husband and I will be vaccinated but obviously not the 2 kids and we are supposed to go to France end of July.

My head is melted trying to decide what to do tbh... small problems I know I know. But if anyone had any insight I'd be thrilled.

Don't make any decisions until MM makes the announcement on Friday. You're head will be melted with all the leaks! I'm booked myself for Spain for August, like that, myself and husband will likely be vaccinated but kids won't.

The EU Digital Covid Passport will come into effect in a few weeks, I think and this is only my guesstimation that MHQ will go for EU countries. But it may keep for other countries. Not a hope the UK will be on it because of politics and the CTA. Kids will need the digital cert, to get it they need either a PCR within 72hr or Antigen within 24hr. If any EU country tries to put on any other restrictions they need to inform the EU clearly why they think they should. I am hoping that Antigen will suffice for kids to travel but I have a sneaky suspicion that Ireland will require PCR because of our close ties to the UK.

So hold steady till Friday, have a glass of wine in hand to steady the nerves!

Klonker wrote: »

The 2k fine will have to be gone when the Green Cert comes in, I'm still hoping they won't renew it on 2nd June!

The retain authority line is more to do with the fact Ireland may insist on a PCR test for entry for unvaccinated and possibly even vaccinated arrivals, while in the rest of EU will more than likely be accepting antigen tests, most already accept the antigen tests for entry now. This may cause a lot of issues. A lot of people are getting stuck abroad because they are testing positive on PCR tests for a virus they had months ago but this is a good thing according to NPHET.

Where is your source that most of the "EU will more than likely be accepting antigen tests,"?

Many countries in the EU are still using PCR tests as a requirement for entry. Some require either PCR or Antigen. I really don't see that situation changing in the short-term.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/01/25/what-s-the-latest-on-european-travel-restrictions

Also you say

"A lot of people are getting stuck abroad because they are testing positive on PCR tests for a virus they had months ago"

"A lot of people"? Could you quantity 'a lot"?

Afaik current research indicates that approx 18% of people test positive on PCR tests due to prior infections.

So the percentage of people who are currently travelling being affected by this should be even lower again presuming not everyone who travels will have had a prior infection etc.

I suspect there are some who may be using this issue as an excuse as to why they shouldn't be stopped from travelling after being infected whilst abroad.

This is supported by the fact that many travellers to date have had to present a negative PCR on entry to these countries. A bit odd that the PCR test doesn't indicate that they are positive on arrival.