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* Quarantine for travellers from Italy and Greece
* Only seven countries exempt
* Ireland fears 'exponential' COVID growth
(Adds Aer Lingus and Ryanair comments, background)
By Conor Humphries
DUBLIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The Irish government on Thursday
tightened its COVID-19 travel restrictions by imposing
quarantines on travellers from major holiday markets Italy and
Greece, angering the country's dominant airlines Ryanair
and Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus said it was concerned by the fact the government
had repeatedly indicated in recent weeks it planned to adopt a
more liberal European Commission proposal, but instead cut back
the number of countries exempt from quarantine.
Ireland had initially waived quarantine for travellers from
countries with lower COVID-19 rates, but as its 14-day infection
rate surged to above 50 cases per 100,000, the government said
only places half that rate would be exempt.
The move came as the head of Ireland's COVID-19 modelling
group on Wednesday warned of "exponential growth" without new
restrictions.
The new "Green List", which goes into effect on Monday,
allows travellers arriving from just seven countries to avoid
quarantine: Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania
and Poland.
The Commission envisages the removal of travel restrictions
on countries with 14-day infection rates of under 50 per
100,000. Irish Prime Minister has promised to implement the EU
rules once they are officially approved on Oct. 13.
"The 'green list' announced today does not represent a step
towards alignment with the European Commission’s free movement
proposal," Aer Lingus said in a statement.
Ryanair, which is taking a case to the Irish High Court
challenging the legality of the quarantine rules, said the
aviation and tourism sectors "cannot afford any further delays
or indecision."
The airline has threatened to close bases in the country's
second and third largest airports, Shannon and Cork, for the
winter unless restrictions are eased.
On Thursday Group Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said
capacity at Dublin airport may also be cut.
(Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Hugh Lawson and
Andrew Cawthorne)
