Contact tracers to get access to passenger locator forms for Christmas travel rush

It is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to €2,500, either to fail to fill in a contact tracing form or to fill it out with misleading information. File picture: Brian Lawless

Contact tracers tracking flights into Ireland are to be given access to passenger locator forms for the first time ahead of the Christmas travel rush.

Several sources in contact tracing centres have suggested that the current system of checking passengers, via flight manifests provided by the airlines, is wholly inadequate for the purpose of tracking infections.