All passengers into Ireland will have to provide negative Covid test

All passengers arriving into Ireland will have to provide a negative Covid-19 test taken prior to departure from Saturday, the Government said.

The check must be undertaken within 72 hours before arrival.

Travellers from the UK and South Africa had already been required to provide the proof due to the circulation of more infectious variants of coronavirus.

An official statement said: “The Government has announced the extension of the requirement for a pre-departure negative/not detected PCR test to passenger arrivals from all countries from Saturday.”

Arrivals from red and grey list countries (as defined by the EU traffic light system), and all other locations outside of Europe, must continue to restrict their movements for 14 days.

However, this may be lifted on receipt of a negative/not detected result of a second PCR test taken no less than five days after arrival.

Arrivals from green and orange countries (as defined by the EU traffic light system) will not be required to restrict their movements on arrival but must adhere to the local public health guidance.

Checks will be made by the Border Management Unit at Dublin Airport and by police at other points of entry.