The Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 was brought forward by the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last month. It was passed in both the Dáil and the Seanad and has now been signed into law by the president.
The Bill provides for a system of mandatory quarantine at designated facilities. People arriving into Ireland from certain countries will have to stay at designated hotels for up
The hotel quarantine measures will apply to arrivals in Ireland from 33 “high-risk” countries currently on the Government’s “category 2” list.The travellers from these countries has high risk of transmission of Covid-19 or mutations.
The Minister for Health has stressed that the measures will apply regardless of a person’s nationality and that the list is subject to amendment and may be expanded
It is also expected that those arriving into the State without proof of a negative PCR test for Covid-19 taken in the previous 72 hours will have to quarantine in a hotel.
The process of quarantine
Passengers arriving the country are required to quarantine at designated facility or a hotel and they have to book a slot in the system before they arrive
Travellers have to meet their on expenses for the hotel stay and will be expected around €2000 per adult.
Each traveller will be staying in the room for 14 days period according to the law.No visitors or mixing with other travellers are permitted and interaction with the hotel staffs will be minimum. After completion of designated time of quarantine, a “letter of completion” will be received
The life in quarantine
Meals will likely be delivered three times a day to rooms in disposable containers, and are likely to be staggered to avoid guests opening doors along a corridor at the same time. Smoking in the rooms are strictly prohibited and there can be a limit on the amount of alcohol a person can order.
Arrangements regarding exercise remain unclear. Outdoor exercise will banned under Australia’s system following a tightening of rules, while in New Zealand it is permitted in designated areas with strict controls.
It is likely that those staying at Ireland’s quarantine hotels will undergo some regime of Covid-19 testing.
Location of hotels.
It is understood that the Government is keen to find a “one-stop shop” provider of quarantine services that will provide accommodation, along with organising transport from airports, meals and security.
Department of Health officials are in talks with a number of hotels in a bid to ensure the new system is operational “as soon as possible,” according to The Irish
It remains unclear which arrangements will be put in place in Ireland. In New Zealand, there is a maximum of four to a room, such as in the case of two adults and two children, with a maximum of eight in a bubble across two rooms.
Leaving in case of an emergency
Sources have said that plans are being worked on in case a person has a mental health crisis or another medical emergency and that the relevant medical support will be available.
Security of the hotels
It is likely that hotels will rely on private security firms to enforce general rules.Gardaí are not expected to be generally on-site at the facilities and are also unlikely to have any role in escorting passengers from planes and ports to the hotels.
However, officers will be called to the hotels if those quarantining do not comply with the rules or leave the facility before they are allowed to.
Penalty for breaking quarantine rules.
Penalties for breaches of mandatory hotel quarantining include fines of up to €4,000 and/or a one-month prison sentence for a first offence.Offences subject to these penalties include leaving the facility, endangering the health or safety of another person, or refusing a Covid-19 test.
Source : www.breakingnews.ie & www.thejornal.ie