Irish racing will continue behind closed doors despite coronavirus restrictions being maintained, the Irish Government announced on Wednesday. Only professional, elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events are permitted to continue in this fashion, with no other matches or events allowed at this time. Racing in Ireland resumed on June 8, but owners have only been allowed briefly in September. The ban on UK travel continues until midnight on Friday, Jan. 8, and beginning on Jan. 9, all passengers coming from the UK will be required to possess a negative coronavirus PCR test acquired within 72 hours of traveling. This testing requirement prior to travel will last at least until Jan. 31.
“They will have to present that negative test at the border management unit at an airport or at the ferry terminal,” said Irish Transport Minister Eamon Ryan. “Failure to do so will be subject to either a fine of €2,500 or up to six months imprisonment penal provision, to make sure we get compliance.
“We expect other countries to be doing something similar and we'll work in co-operation with other countries, and with the European Commission, to monitor and manage how this affects individuals. The cabinet's agreed provisionally to apply the same measures to other jurisdictions, other red-list countries.
“We will work first of all introduce to the UK provisions, and we will work in the next week with European Commission and others, people involved in the travel industry, in terms of how we broaden and apply the same measures too from other jurisdictions.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
