Ireland is currently finalising details of an immediate ban on all UK travellers coming in and out of the country in the run up to Christmas Day.
Ireland’s health minister Stephen Donnelly said there will be an announcement shortly on potential restrictions.
According to the Irish Examiner, the country’s Transport minister, Eamon Ryan, is to announce on the new restrictions this evening – looking at flights and ferries coming from Britain.
It’s understood the ban will initially run for 48 hours until the Irish Government has the chance to review the situation on Tuesday (December 22).
Mr Donnelly told RTÉ’s This Week programme that his Government was giving “serious consideration” to a ban because the alarming rate a new strain of coronavirus has spread in England.
The move follows Boris Johnson’s press conference on Saturday where he announced a new strain of coronavirus spreading rapidly and that his festive five day reprieve plan – where three households could get together from Dec 23 – Dec 27 – was being ditched.
Areas where the new strain is believed to be most prevalent have moved into a new Tier 4 – effectively another lockdown for London and much of South East England.
It means no-one should enter or exit these regions, nor should there be any mixing outside one household. Those in Tier 4 are not permitted to leave the country apart from “limited exceptions”, such as for work purposes.
Netherlands was the first to ban Brit arrivals- before Belgium followed.
It is understood Germany will also be following suit.
Mr Donnelly added that Ireland was “not sealing the border” but would be giving “strong advice” about travel north and south.
