Passenger locator forms will be a mandatory requirement for all passengers coming into Ireland to fill out from today.
Overseas travellers arriving into Ireland will have to fill in Covid-19 passenger locator forms, providing authorities with details of where they will be self-isolating for the 14 days following their return to the country. A mandatory requirement from today going forward, the forms are part of government efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 within Ireland.
Anyone who fails to fill out a form could face jail time of up to six months or be landed with a hefty fine (up to €2,500).
According to Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan, the new forms will allow officials to follow up with travellers and check-in with passengers if necessary.
There are a number of exemptions to this, however, including transport workers involved in supply chains and those crossing the border over from Northern Ireland. Anyone arriving into the Republic of Ireland and moving immediately onwards to the North will only be required to fill out their name and signature on the form.
The new regulations are expected to remain in place until June 18th when the circumstances will be reevaluated and reviewed. According to
RTE, Minister for Health Simon Harris Simon Harris said:
"The people of Ireland have managed to suppress Covid-19 in our communities, and through their actions, they are enabling the resumption of social and economic life. The Government is concerned that as we move towards the easing of measures, the risk of importing new cases through non-essential travel increases. The introduction of these rules aims to limit this risk".
The government is also reportedly "working on proposals" with regards to enforcing self-isolation - a matter that the minister deems to be "tricky, legally".
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