Two of the most popular destinations for Canadians and Americans are putting new testing rules in place.
Tourism Ireland said today that all arrivals into the Republic – whether vaccinated or not – will need a negative Covid test result from tomorrow (Dec. 3) onwards.
Those travelling with an antigen test result will need to have obtained it within 48 hours of departure, and it will have to be professionally administered. No self-administered tests will be accepted. Those with a PCR test result will have a longer pre-travel window of 72 hours.
Persons arriving into the state from overseas who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 will be required also to have a certified negative test.
With regard to travel to Northern Ireland, all arrivals from non-red list countries, including those who are fully vaccinated, will now be required to self-isolate for 10 days unless they receive a negative test result, with a PCR test to be undertaken on or before day two.
“The advice is that travellers should follow these new arrangements immediately,” officials said.
France will require all travellers from countries outside of the EU to present a negative COVID-19 test starting Saturday (Dec. 4), euronews.com reports.
The new rules will apply regardless of a person’s vaccination status. The test will need to be either a PCR or an antigen, taken within 48 hours of travel, euronews said.
The UK recently brought in a requirement for PCR tests for incoming visitors, as well.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has banned non-resident Canadians from entering due to fears of the Omicron variant. That policy begins today (Dec. 2), the Toronto Star reports.
Non-residents who travelled to Canada in the past 21 days will be prevented from entering the country, the Star said.
