C

Clarity sought on 14-day quarantines at Kerry Airport

By Sean Moriarty

Airlines and passengers say that the Government's requirements to self-isolate once they arrive in the country are unworkable and are calling for more clarity on the issue

Ryanair is set to recommence flight operations at Kerry Airport on July 1, with its limited schedule for the first weeks of July gradually returning to a more-frequent service as the weeks go by.

Quarantine rules came into effect last Thursday, May 28, where people arriving in Ireland from any other country will, by law, have to fill in a form called the COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, saying where they can be contacted. They will also be asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Last week the EU issued guidelines to ensure that Europe’s citizens can return to flying within the European Union in the coming weeks in a manner that best protects their health and the health of airline crew. These guidelines now allow Europe’s tourism industry to restart in July and August. However, both Ireland and the UK have taken a different approach.

Ryanair welcomed the EU advice on face masks, which reflects its own, previously issued, health protocols as it returns to widespread flying on July 1 but the airline has called on the Irish and UK Government to drop the 14-day quarantine measures, which are now being scrapped in most other European countries in favour of face masks and social distancing.

“14-day quarantines are ineffective and unimplementable. Requiring international arrivals to quarantine only after they have used multiple public transport providers to get from the airport to their ultimate destination has no basis in science or medicine. We strongly urge Europe’s Governments, especially those in Ireland and the UK, to mandate to the wearing of face masks for airline, train and (London) underground passengers, as this is the best and most effective way to limit the spread of COVID-19 in public transport environments where social distancing is not possible,” said Ryanair’s Group CEO Michael O’Leary.

London-based Killarney woman Tara Cronin is a frequent visitor to her hometown. Most of her journeys are over the course of a long-weekend as Ryanair’s timetable from Luton and Stansted and her London-based work schedules can easily work together.

“I can't wait to get home for a few days once the flights are restored but what am I supposed to do? Isolate in Killarney for two weeks, and return to London and do the same, a long weekend would require a month off,” she said.

Tara based her comments on the fact that anyone in the Schengen (EU countries and Switzerland) free travel area will not have to quarantine for two weeks and not out of disrespect towards health and safety requirements.

“Europe’s citizens can travel safely on their summer holidays wearing face masks and observing temperature protocols, but 14-day quarantines have no scientific basis, are unimplementable and unnecessary in circumstances where airline, train and underground passengers wear face masks where social distancing isn’t possible,” added O’Leary.