AQW 21133/17-22
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 29/06/2021
Answered On Date: 09/07/2021
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what consideration he has given to allowing Northern Irish residents returning from red list countries to isolate at home as opposed to being obliged to organise and pay for a hotel quarantine package.
Answer:
In order to protect public health, including from the risk of new variants of Covid-19 being introduced or established into Northern Ireland, there is a need to place restrictions on international travel. These are set out in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021. The countries with the highest identified risk are placed on the red list with enhanced measures including the need to enter into managed isolation, as designated by the Department of Health, for the first 10 days from arrival into Northern Ireland. In light of the need to reflect individual circumstances, there are a number of situations where it can be requested that the Department of Health agrees to changes to the managed isolation arrangements. These include medically vulnerable persons who would not receive appropriate support if they were required to isolate in the designated managed isolation accommodation, which would have a severe detrimental impact on their condition. In addition, a request can be made if the intention to travel to Northern Ireland is to visit a close family member or friend who is dying or severely ill and could not reasonably practicably be visited if the new arrival is isolating in the managed isolation accommodation. In addition, there are a number of exemptions to allow a person to temporarily leave the managed isolation accommodation, For example, to attend the funeral of a household member or close family friend, if they have been given prior permission. The International Travel Regulations are kept under regular review.
|