![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/coveney_03172020.png\")
People are being advised not to travel to any other country until the end of this month at least.<\/p>\nPeople are being advised not to travel to any other country until the end of this month at least.<\/p>\n
The T\u00e1naiste last night confirmed that all non-essential travel should be cancelled and the UK is now included in that advice.<\/p>\n
Simon Coveney says the decision was made because it has become impossible to make an exception for any one country.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been trying to give travel advice to travelers trying to go to different parts of the world, different parts of the European Union, trying to distinguish between countries.<\/p>\n
“That is becoming increasingly difficult and complex now because of the rapid pace of the spread.<\/p>\n
“Our travel advice now is very clear: we are advising against all non-essential travel overseas and that is going to last until at least March 29.”<\/p>\n
Mr Coveney said the travel restrictions will be imposed on everyone who enters the Republic from now on. People who arrive will be asked to restrict their movements.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt is not quite self-isolation but involves significant restrictions.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said non-essential travel can be defined as \u201cpeople who are choosing to go overseas and do not need to. This is our clear health advice\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot be sure if they can get back and we predict there will be major disruptions to all flight activity in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cNon-essential travel should not be happening to and from this island \u2013 we want to keep people safe and we want to ensure people get back safely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prof Kingston Mills, a professor of experimental immunology, told Newstalk Breakfast that while he is happy with Ireland\u2019s approach so far, he feels that the government should have curtailed travel at an earlier stage.<\/p>\n
Eoghan Corry of Travel Extra says people will have to decide what they consider “essential travel”.<\/p>\n
“It isn’t that significant in the context of the past two days but it was beforehand because it had implications for travel insurance,” said Mr Corry.<\/p>\n
“The way things are looking now, essential travel will be self-defined and it’s really people deciding to defy the risks and go ahead.”<\/p>\n
Mr Corry said that among the risks involved is the possibility of being turned away at the border of some countries.<\/p>\n