Digital Desk Staff
A buffer zone along the Border could be used to stop the spread of Covid-19 between Nothern Ireland and the Republic.
The Independent Scientific Advocacy Group, which has been advocating for a zero-Covid strategy has written to the Government with a number of solutions after the Taoiseach said the country is not in a position to seal the Border.
A "red zone" in Border areas with high levels of infection would be surrounded by a "buffer zone" between 10 and 30 kilometres wide, with graduated travel restrictions.
Julien Mercile has authored the report sent to Government, he believes the plan could be enough to avoid sealing the border itself.
He says it is based on discussions with senior officials in Australia -- where entire states have gone weeks without any local transmission of the virus in the community.
He added “Of course the border in Ireland is a challenge there is no denying that, but they all said that you guys have to get your act together around this.”
Meanwhile, The Labour Leader said he wants a national aggressive suppression strategy brought in, including mandatory quarantine at airports for inward travel.
Deputy Alan Kelly says checks should be put in place within five kilometres of the border to stop the spread of Covid-19:
“We need to ensure that we have some permanent and some temporary checks.
!We should have checks five kilometres inside the border with Northern Ireland, as regards people who should not be travelling between jurisdictions because of the restrictions that are in place.”
