Guidance for those who have recently arrived in Ireland from South Africa or Brazil
Anyone who has travelled from South Africa or Brazil to Ireland in the past 14 days is now advised to immediately:
A. Self-isolate for a period of 14 days from the date of arrival into Ireland. This advice to self-isolate is stricter then the advice for people travelling from other countries, where standard “restrict movements” advice applies
B. Refer yourself for a COVID-19 test in the public system, which can be arranged by your GP. If you don’t have a GP, ring any GP and they can arrange this for you
C. This COVID-19 test should be done 5 days after arrival in Ireland or as soon as possible after this.
D. The Department of Health is also contacting incoming travellers from South Africa and Brazil, using the Passenger Locator Form, informing them of the need to self-isolate and to arrange testing.
E. A “not detected” test does not affect your requirement to remain in self-isolation for the duration of the 14-day period.
F. If you have already had a test done in a private clinic or through a private laboratory, you need to complete the 14 days of self-isolation, regardless of the result of test carried out privately. You should also organise a repeat test in a public laboratory with your GP.
G. If you develop any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 at any stage, irrespective of previous testing, phone your GP or HSE Live at 1850 241 850 and alert them of your recent travel overseas from South Africa or Brazil.
H. For incoming travellers from South Africa or Brazil, their household contacts should restrict their movements for 14 days from their last contact with the person who has travelled, regardless of the result of the test in the person who travelled.
I. If you have COVID-19
AND
a. Either you have travelled from South Africa or Brazil
OR
b. a member of your household or people you are physically working with have recently travelled from South Africa or Brazil (within past 14 days):
c. You will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
d. Your contacts will also be tested for COVID-19 and will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.
e. For one week after this 14-day period of self-isolation, your contacts are to be vigilant in observing physical distance measures at all times and to wear a cloth face covering or mask. These contacts should self-isolate and report to their GP immediately if any symptoms develop.
f. Household members of these close contacts are also asked to restrict their movements for 14 days, but will not need to be tested.
If you are a Healthcare worker and have travelled to Ireland from South Africa or Brazil in the last 28 days:
g. You need to be tested (regardless of when in this 28-day period you travelled to Ireland) – this is arranged either by your GP or your occupational health department
h. You need to have completed 14 days self-isolation before working in a health care environment.