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Non-essential cross-border travel must be stopped \u201cby enforcement if required\u201d, the North’s Health Minister has warned.<\/p>\nNon-essential cross-border travel must be stopped \u201cby enforcement if required\u201d, the North’s Health Minister has warned.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Robin Swann warned of a spike in Covid-19 cases in border counties.<\/p>\n
The lifting of pandemic restrictions and the vaccination program in the North has outpaced those across the Border, raising fresh concerns over cross-border travel.<\/p>\n
In a letter to Mr Donnelly seen by the PA news agency, Mr Swann warned of a \u201cfresh increase of community transmission of Covid-19\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said that governments in both jurisdiction should do everything possible to prevent non-essential cross-border travel.<\/p>\n
The letter said: \u201cI wish to place on record my concern at the potential for cross-border interactions to fuel a fresh increase in community transmission and Covid-19 cases in respective jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur two jurisdictions are at different junctures, in terms of number of cases, the current trajectory of the epidemic, vaccination progress and Covid-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, that should not hamper continued co-operation in key areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn particular, I believe we should be doing all we can to prevent non-essential cross-border travel at this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will require clear messaging, backed up by enforcement if required.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Swann requested an urgent meeting with Mr Donnelly, department officials and senior public health bosses from both jurisdictions \u201cto consider what additional actions are required\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said recent data from both sides of the border \u201cmust be taken seriously and elicit an appropriate response\u201d.<\/p>\n
The letter adds: \u201cIn the present circumstances, crossing the border for non-essential shopping or socializing purposes creates an unnecessary risk of virus spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe island, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland \u2013 and not least its border areas \u2013 has suffered too much already to allow that to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Sunday, the HSE and the Public Health Agency (PHA) issued a joint statement warning of the risks of an increase in transmission.<\/p>\n
It follows concerns around a spike in cases in Donegal.<\/p>\n
The county has the highest incident rate in the State, at 293.4 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 127.3 nationally.<\/p>\n
Two new walk-in testing centers were established in the county this week on the back of rising cases.<\/p>\n
Garda\u00ed announced a dedicated phone line for reporting Covid-19 breaches on Tuesday, in a move that was criticized locally.<\/p>\n
There were 26 positive cases recorded in Donegal on Thursday, out of 393 nationally.<\/p>\n