Flights from the UK are now banned for at least 48 hours.

In response to the identification of a new strain of Covid-19 in the South-East of England, the government has announced a ban on all flights and passenger ferries arriving into Ireland from Great Britain with effect from midnight last night.

Last night, as a further 764 new cases of coronavirus were reported in Ireland, with four further deaths from the disease, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health held detailed discussions on the latest threat and announced that in the interests of public health, people in Britain, regardless of nationality, should not travel to Ireland, by air or by sea.

The ban is in place for Monday, December 21st and Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020 and will be reviewed by the government at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“Ferry crossings between Ireland and Great Britain will continue in order to keep essential supply chains moving. The government direction for people not to travel from Great Britain to Ireland does not extend to essential supply chain workers.” the Government said in a statement.

“Arrangements are being put in place to facilitate the repatriation of Irish residents on short trips to Great Britain and planning to return in the coming days, as well as international travellers to Ireland who are transiting through Great Britain.”