Health chiefs say possibility of traveller bringing Covid-19 into Northern Ireland from England 'very low'

HEALTH chiefs have said the possibility of a traveller bringing Covid-19 into Northern Ireland from England is "very low" - after Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill claimed that British arrivals posed the "greatest risk".

Ms O'Neill is expected to call for a 14-day quarantine to be introduced for people travelling into the north from Britain when it is discussed at an Executive meeting tomorrow.

The Sinn Féin vice-president said the north "can't become a backdoor for travellers entering into this island".

However, First Minister Arlene Foster has said Northern Ireland is in a common travel area with the rest of the UK and "we'll respect that".

In a statement, the Department of Health said while there is some "increased risk" of people infected with coronavirus arriving from places with more cases, current data shows that no more than 1 in 2,300 travellers from England are likely to have Covid-19.

They said this means that "the possibility of a traveller from England bringing the virus to NI is very low in terms of absolute risk".

The department also said that, to date, "very few travel-associated Covid cases" had been identified.

Confusion around travel guidelines has continued, with two different policies in place on the island of Ireland.

While the north's official guidance states that you "should not travel abroad unless it's essential", it released a list earlier this month of more than 50 countries where you could visit and not have to quarantine on your return home.

Italy, Germany, Spain and France were among the countries included.

People travelling from the Republic to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also not asked to quarantine as it is part of a 'common travel area'.

However, Irish government restrictions are tighter, with arrivals from all areas apart from Northern Ireland currently asked to self-isolate.

Like the north, the overall advice is against all non-essential travel.

A 'green list' of countries for which quarantine will be lifted is due to be published, although it may not include Britain.