NI on high alert as American tourists arriving in Dublin 'ignore 14 day quarantine' and spark COVID-19 row in Republic of Ireland

The Northern Ireland tourism and hospitality sector is on high alert after numerous reports of US tourists ignoring the 14 day quarantine rule after arriving in Dublin from COVID-19 hot-spots like the state of Texas.
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In the last few days, hotels and restaurants in the Republic of Ireland have turned away customers from the USA because they were unable to provide proof that they had spent 14 days in quarantine, as instructed by the Irish government.

An American Airlines jet is scheduled to arrive in Dublin from Dallas, Texas on Friday morning.

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On Tuesday July 14, the US state of Texas reported its greatest number (10,745) of new infections in a 24 hour period.

Texas is officially the fourth worst hit state in the USA with more than 313,060 confirmed cases and 3,770 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths of which 289 occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

The Republic of Ireland has recorded 17 additional COVID-19 related deaths for the month of July so far.

Earlier this week, a bicycle tour company based in Co. Clare, revealed it had to cancel a booking made by two US tourists after they both revealed they had not self-isolated after arriving in the country from the USA.

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The King's Head Pub and the Cava Bodega restaurant, both in Galway, also used social media to describe similar experiences of turning away US tourists who said they would not observing the 14 day quarantine rule.

There is concern that this problem could spread into Northern Ireland.

Travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland continues to operate as normal despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's highly likely that some US tourists arriving in Dublin will travel into Northern Ireland.

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Under current Northern Ireland travel regulations, people from many countries including Spain, Italy and France can travel here without having to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.

A woman wears a mask as she walks through Belfast city centre earlier this week. (Photo: PA Wire)A woman wears a mask as she walks through Belfast city centre earlier this week. (Photo: PA Wire)
A woman wears a mask as she walks through Belfast city centre earlier this week. (Photo: PA Wire)

However, countries such as the USA, Canada, Portugal, Russia and Sweden are not exempt therefore anyone arriving in Northern Ireland from any of these countries would have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Unlike fellow European Union member states, the Republic of Ireland, has not stopped commercial air travel from USA.

The USA continues to have the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths on the planet with almost half of all 50 states spiking at a greater rate than observed at any time since the beginning of the pandemic.

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The Republic of Ireland's current policy on travel remains unchanged - anyone arriving in the Republic of Ireland from any other country, except Northern Ireland, must self-isolate for 14 days.

However, on July 20 the Republic of Ireland government is due to publish a 'green list' of countries people will be able to travel to without having to observe 14 days of self-isolation when they return to or arrive in, Ireland.