US TOURISTS could face the prospect of having to take two coronavirus tests to be allowed into Ireland.
Proposals have been made to ensure that all overseas tourists are able to prove beyond all doubt that they're not bringing Covid-19 into the country, to prevent any unnecessary spread of the virus.
In a report but before the Dail, the Oireachtas committee, recommended that mandatory quarantine upon entry to Ireland "should be monitored more closely".
There were recommendations for a number of methods to identify any potential coronavirus carriers, including setting up temperature screenings at airports and quarantining centres at nearby hotels.
Tourists visiting Ireland from countries not included on the government's official green list are currently required to self-isolate for 14 days.
Both the US and the UK failed to make the green list, and anyone arriving from either country must adhere to the guidelines, but there are concerns that enforcing this quarantine is an impossible task.
The committee have suggested that two Covid-19 tests over the course of the 14-day period should be carried out.
The new proposals come amid an increasing trend of travel-related coronavirus cases around Europe.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has said that 7.8% of cases notified over the last fortnight are associated with travel in Ireland.
They said that "all measures be utilised to discourage travel from overseas to Ireland at this time" amid a worrying escalation of the virus.
Despite no new deaths being reported, there were 50 new cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday, with acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn warning there has been a "significant increase" in the spread of the virus across several counties in recent days.
