Another 18 states have been added to a list of ‘high-risk’ countries, from which travellers arriving in Ireland must undergo a 14-day quarantine period.

Under regulations signed into law on 4 February, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (pictured) designated Brazil and South Africa as ‘category two’ states, but the rules also gave him the power to add more countries to the list.

Variants of concern

Minister Donnelly said stringent measures on people arriving to Ireland from these 20 states were necessary due to the risks posed by certain COVID-19 variants.

The countries added to the list are: Angola, Austria, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Eswatini, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

“People who arrive in Ireland must now complete a full mandatory 14-day period of self-quarantine if they have been in any of these states in the previous 14 days,” the minister said.

“The Government will shortly consider legislation that will require such passengers arriving here to complete this quarantine at a designated facility,” he added.