Ireland’s mandatory quarantine will open on Friday.

Anyone entering the Republic of Ireland from one of 33 countries deemed ‘high risk’ is now legally required to book a 12-night stay in a designated hotel in Dublin.

A dedicated website quarantinehotelsireland.ie is now live and open for booking, with Tifco Hotel Group running the first facility at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport Hotel in Santry and a second facility expected to be opened near Cork Airport in the coming weeks.

Here are five things to know:

1. Who is required to quarantine?

You must complete a mandatory hotel quarantine if you come from any country deemed ‘high risk’, if you have been in a ‘high risk’ country at any time in the 14 days before you arrive in Ireland or if you have travelled through an airport or port in a ‘high risk’ country.

“Passengers will be required to complete 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine at a designated facility, this could be reduced if a passenger receives a not-detected result of a COVID-19 test that is taken after ten days. It may also be extended if a passenger tests positive during their stay.”

2. How much will it cost?

The 12 Night Quarantine Package is €1,875 and includes overnight accommodation for 12 nights, breakfast, lunch and dinner. An additional €625 is added to the bill for an adult or a child aged over 12 sharing. The rate for each additional child aged 4-12 is €360 and infants are free.

The rate also includes transfer from the airport/port to the hotel and security. You will also be provided with two Covid-19 tests, free of charge.

3. You must stay until you receive a letter of completion

According to the website, “Once you have completed 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine (this could be reduced if you get a not-detected result of a COVID-19 test that is taken after ten days), you will receive a letter of completion. You will then be free to leave the mandatory hotel quarantine facility.”

The SLO (Irish Defence Forces) will support guests as they make arrangements for onward travel and check out of the hotel.

4. Leaving early is an offence

If you leave mandatory hotel quarantine before completing the required 10 or 14-day period you are committing an offence and can be fined up to €2,000 or get a prison sentence of up to one month, or both.

An Garda Síochána will enforce any non-compliance issues.

5. There are limited exemptions

People who will not be required to quarantine include children aged six and under, anyone arriving into the State in the course of duty and who holds a valid Annex 3 certificate (ensuring the availability of goods and essential services), drivers of heavy goods vehicles, airline pilots, aircrew, maritime crew, diplomats, anyone travelling to the State pursuant to an arrest warrant, extradition proceedings or other mandatory legal obligation, and members of An Garda Síochána or Defence Forces (or their equivalents from another state) travelling to Ireland in course of duty.

Exemptions are also available for members of either house of the Oireachtas or the European Parliament and travellers with “unavoidable, imperative and time-sensitive medical reasons” provided these reasons are certified by a registered medical practitioner.