DUBLIN, 20 September 2020 (Conor Trindle): The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday updated the government's 'Green List' of countries on the basis of the current ECDC data.

This is in line with the government's decision to include EU /EEA countries with a 14-day cumulative disease incidence rate of 25 or less per 100,000, based on data provided by the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC). The changes to the list will take effect from midnight on Monday.

The list of countries will be Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Irish citizens considering travel to these locations are being made aware that these countries continue to announce new restrictions on arrivals from abroad, including the requirements to quarantine on entry. This can include restrictions on arrivals from Ireland.

"The government agreed that Ireland should broadly support the European Commission proposal for a common approach to travel within the EU / EEA, which is currently under discussion in Brussels. Between now and the EU signing off on a system, Ireland's Green List will be updated on a weekly basis. The changes announced today will come into effect on Monday. People should use our travel advice to carefully consider their need to go abroad and take into account the restrictions that other countries may have on travellers from Ireland," the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said Thursday.

With effect from Monday 21 September, Cyprus, Germany, Poland and Iceland have been added to the list and their security status rating has been changed to "normal precautions". From Monday 21 September onwards, passengers arriving in Ireland from these countries will not be requested to restrict their movement.

With effect from Monday 21 September, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Greece, Norway and Estonia have been removed from the list, and their security status rating has been changed to 'avoid non-essential travel.' Passengers arriving in Ireland from these locations will be requested to restrict their movements.

The general advisory to avoid non-essential travel remains in place, the department says, except for countries on the 'Green List', and for certain exempted categories. The security rating for countries on the 'Green List' is 'Normal Precautions' (green).

The government says citizens should be aware that many countries, including some of those on the Green List, are imposing quarantine, testing or other restrictions on arrivals from abroad. This can include restrictions on arrivals from Ireland. Citizens who are considering travel to particular locations are advised to monitor news and information from the public authorities in their destination, the department said.

Reviews to the Green List will take place on a weekly basis, using the ECDC data published every Thursday, with any changes to the list taking effect from the following Monday.