Q&A: Mandatory hotel quarantine starts this week. But how does it work?

People whose journeys originate in any country designated as a Covid hotspot or of being the site of a large proportion of a variant of concern of Covid-19 will have to book themselves into a designated facility. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

From 4am on this Friday, mandatory hotel quarantine will come into effect, nearly two months after the plan was announced by the Government.

The two-week stay at a designated facility was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins two weeks ago, with more than 34,400 people having arrived in Ireland in the three-week period since Cabinet signed off on the plan, with about 1,200 coming from Covid hotspots.

While all of those people are required by law to isolate for two weeks, there has been criticism of the lack of enforcement.

Now, people who are on the list of so-called 'category 2' countries will have to book into hotels and stay for 14 days upon their arrival into the State.

The list of category 2 countries is subject to ongoing review, but currently lists Austria and the UAE as well as 17 African countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius and 14 South American countries including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

WHERE WILL THE HOTELS BE?

The Tifco Hotel group has been contracted by the State to provide what is being called a "one-stop shop to run the whole thing". This will include booking, transport, security, food and lodging.

Tifco owns the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express at Dublin Airport and Travelodge Hotels at both Dublin and Cork airports. It is understood the Crowne Plaza in Santry is among those hotels to be used.

WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA THE HOTEL PROVIDERS WERE REQUIRED TO MEET IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE CONTRACT?

Given the necessity to establish the mandatory quarantine services in an expedited timeframe, an initial scoping exercise was conducted, involving a number of market operators. 

These initial proposals were reviewed based on the capability to deliver the broad suite of services involved, capacity to deliver in an expedited timescale, and the proposed cost models.

WHAT ABOUT VENTILATION AND POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN ROOMS?

Tifco Hotel Group have implemented all measures related to ensuring the safe operation of ventilation and air conditioning systems fully in line with the Fáilte Ireland Guidelines for the Re-opening of Hotels and Guesthouses. 

The hotel’s Ventilation Engineers have confirmed that there is no circulation of air between rooms.

WHO HAS TO QUARANTINE AND WHY?

People whose journeys originate in any country designated as a Covid hotspot or of being the site of a large proportion of a variant of concern of Covid-19 will have to book themselves into a designated facility.

Speaking on Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he expects the list of countries requiring quarantining will be increased from the current number of 33, but stopped short of saying if any EU countries would be on the list.

He said there had to be good grounds for other countries to be added.

WHY ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTRIES?

The Government has been slow to adopt wide-scale quarantine like that seen in New Zealand and Australia, with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar previously calling the plan "disproportionate". 

As an attempt to strike a balance, the Government is focusing on areas where more transmissible variants of the virus are popping up or where there is a perception that testing is not on par with Ireland's.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A PERSON DOESN'T QUARANTINE?

Under the new legislation, any arrival who fails to adhere to the rules will be fined as much as €4,000 and face a possible month in prison.

Gardaí will not be stationed at the hotels, however, after resistance from gardaí and the Department of Justice, but security will be provided by a private operator who will not have the power to arrest.

The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will provide planning and logistical support, with An Garda Síochána called only if there's a breach of any law or guidelines.

IS THE AN APPEALS/WAIVERS PROCESS FOR MANDATORY QUARANTINING? 

The provisions of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2021, published on Friday, February 19, allow for travellers to appeal decisions relating to their quarantine, provisions for leaving quarantine under exceptional circumstances (such as medical emergencies or for humanitarian reasons), and the special provisions which will allow those seeking international protection or unaccompanied minors to undertake their quarantine in appropriate circumstances.

WHO PAYS?

Under the plan, the person arriving into the country will pay for their own stay, with prices as high as €2,000 being quoted.

Guests will be delivered three meals a day, but will not be allowed to interact with other guests and will be released from quarantine with a negative PCR test on day 14.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

A breakdown of the rates can be found on the table below:

	Rate(for standard package of 12 nights inclusive of all services)	Day Rate(for those entering from non-designated States with no pre-departure PCR Test)
Rate for 1 Adult in 1 Room	€1875	€150
Additional Rate for 1 Adult Sharing (or child over 12)	€625	€55
Additional Rate for a Child Sharing Aged 4-12	€360	€30
Rate for Infant (0-3)	€0	€0

HOW MUCH HAS THIS SYSTEM COST THE STATE?

The Government has said costs will accrue once the system has become operational

WHAT SUPPORTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO GUESTS?

Tifco Hotel Group will make a range of health and wellbeing supports available to guests. The HSE will undertake testing for Covid-19 and a separate healthcare provider will undertake an assessment of each guest and develop appropriate care plans where needed at each facility. 

They will also conduct regular wellbeing check-ins.

WHAT ARE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE?

Designated fresh air breaks will be accommodated at the hotel. 

A designated safe and secure space for fresh air breaks will be available at the hotel. These breaks should be booked in advance. The hotel will endeavour to accommodate guests at their preferred time.

At the requested time, a Security person will knock on the guests door and escort them to the designated area. All outdoor areas are monitored. Security will escort guests back to their bedroom after their break. In order to protect other guests and the hotel team, a fresh air break will only be permitted after you have received a negative Day 0 PCR test.

The possibilities for exercise/fresh air breaks may differ from one facility to another.

WHAT HAPPENS TO UNACCOMPANIED MINORS?

Unaccompanied minors arriving into the State who have travelled from or through a designated state in the 14 days prior to arrival in Ireland will not be permitted to enter a mandatory quarantine facility alone. 

Either:

• Their adult guardian can enter mandatory hotel quarantine with them; or 
• If this is not possible their guardian must sign a written undertaking to ensure the child will adhere to quarantine rules under their care at home or in a boarding school.
• Any unaccompanied minor who requires state care will be taken into the care of Túsla and complete their mandatory quarantine at a separate facility

 - More details on the mandatory quarantining plan, and the booking portal, can be found on www.gov.ie/quarantine