Passengers will no longer need a negative Covid test to enter Ireland

Rules are set to be lifted.

Passengers coming into Ireland will no longer need a negative antigen or PCR test. The requirement for these tests for air passengers is set to be removed as Cabinet has signed off on it this morning. The measure was initially put in place to slow the arrival of the Omicron variant in Ireland and now will be lifted as it accounts for over 95% of all cases. Passengers arriving into Ireland by both sea and air will still need to show their EU Digital Covid Certs, showing that they are recovered, fully vaccinated or have tested negative on a PCR test. The new rule change was brought to ministers this morning after advice was given by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan. Depending on the agreement reached by Cabinet, the new rules could come into play as soon as tomorrow but an exact date still needs to be set. [caption id="attachment_541304" align="alignnone" width="501"] Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie[/caption] Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is also said to ask Cabinet for the approval of spending €90m on anti-viral Covid drugs. These new antiviral pills for Covid are used in the treatment of high-risk adults. According to Pfizer, the use of these drugs can reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by 89% if given within three days before the development of Covid symptoms. The company also says it performs well against the Omicron variant. Minister Donnelly will ask for approval for three of these drugs, made by Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck. However, the pills are currently being examined by the European Medicines Agency and have not yet been given full approval.