CONFIRMATION that passengers coming through Shannon and other Irish airports will no longer need a negative PCR or antigen test has been welcomed locally.
Since early December, when the threat of the Omicron variant emerged, all arriving passengers have needed either a negative PCR test or a negative antigen test, regardless of vaccination status.
From this Thursday, airport authorities will only be asking for proof of vaccination or, for unvaccinated people, a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their arrival into Ireland.
Mid West Fianna Fáil TD and party spokesperson for Tourism and Aviation, Cathal Crowe told the Limerick Post that the decision is a positive one for the airport and the region.
“Now that nine out of ten cases of Covid is of the Omicron variant, there is no sense in trying to contain it,” he said.
“We are in a situation now where we will have to live with this virus for months to come. We must rely heavily on science and exercise caution, but this releases people to travel in and out of Shannon again.”
Meanwhile, the end is in sight for Covid-19 close contact isolation rules for those who have received booster vaccines.
The Government has asked the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to review the rules which require a close contact to isolate for ten days.
The isolation requirement will be lifted as long as anyone identified as a close contact wears a mask in public.
