By Emma Dodd
Northern Ireland’s first minister Arlene Foster has asked people not to undertake caravan holidays in Derry, as soaring coronavirus infection rates affect the area.
She has also discouraged travel across the border to Donegal where there is a similar issue with cases of COVID-19 on the rise.
Her requests for residents and visitors to refrain from holidaying in these areas comes in the wake of the island of Ireland’s two chief medical officers calling for a limit to cross-border travel.
Derry is currently recording the highest number of coronavirus infections anywhere in Northern Ireland, reports the Press Association.
The Irish government has put Donegal under tightened restrictions for three weeks in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Mrs Foster confirmed she had undertaken a “very good conversation” with Ireland’s taoiseach Micheal Martin, who concurred with her views on the matter.
Discussing holidaymakers contemplating leisure trips in the two areas, she said: “I would advise them not to go because I don’t think that that is essential travel, and it’s certainly not an exempted part.
“And people shouldn’t try to game the regulations, people should use their common sense.”
People can travel freely across the Ireland – Northern Ireland border, but Great Britain is not currently on Ireland’s Green List.
This means anyone arriving from England, Scotland or Wales into Ireland must restrict their movements for 14 days.
Great Britain does, however, fall within the Common Travel Area (CTA) that allows visits to Northern Ireland without quarantining.
Ireland is currently on the British government’s exempt list of destinations you can travel to without needing to quarantine for 14 days when returning home.
The majority of Ireland is currently under level two coronavirus restrictions, which means domestic travel is permitted.
Dublin and Donegal are subject to level three regulations, meaning they should not be considered good locations for a caravan holiday.
