AQW 16219/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health (i) which groups are exempt from the 10-day quarantine rule for travellers coming back from GB; (ii) whether there is a planned relaxation of this rule; and (iii) whether relatives travelling back from GB after providing childcare to relatives must quarantine for 10 days.

Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 11 March 2021

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
11 March 2021
Answer due by
29 March 2021
Answered
20 May 202170 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

People should not travel in or out of Northern Ireland except where it is essential to do so.

If you are arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area and you plan to remain here for at least 24 hours, public health advice is that you should self-isolate upon arrival for 10 days, unless you are exempt.

Some people travelling within the Common Travel Area may be exempt from self-isolation due to the job they do. Information on sector specific exemptions is available at:

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-within-common-travel-area-sector-exemptions

An indicative date of 24 May has been set to allow individuals to travel within the Common Travel Area to visit family and friends.

This means you will not have to self-isolate for 10 days if you are arriving into Northern Ireland from within the Common Travel Area to visit family or friends, however the public health advice is to take a pre-departure Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test, and then a LFD test on day 2 and day 8 post arrival in NI.

Official sources