Ireland extends visa-free travel ban for SA

The Irish government has extended its visa-free travel ban for South Africa and some South American countries due to concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19.

The previous ban implemented on 27 January was due to end on 5 March. According to the Irish Times, Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee said the ban has been extended to assist Irish authorities in moderating the movement of people going in and out of the Republic of Ireland. McEntee said that the ban will be extended “until it is no longer needed for public health reasons.”

“The strong advice is that everyone, regardless of their nationality or visa/preclearance status, or where they started their travel from, who cannot provide of essential purpose to travel to or within Ireland, should not travel to Ireland,” she said.

It is currently against the law for any person – regardless of nationality or passport – to travel within Ireland for non-essential reasons.

McEntee told Irish Times that the decision to implement the ban was made based on expert advice they received from their National Public Health Team.

Until it is no longer needed, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and South Africa will not be permitted into the Republic of Ireland.

PICTURE: Unsplash

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