Fly me to the Moon - your 3rd travel Megathread - read OP

Many callers have complained that they cannot get through to the new helpline number for queries on the Digital Covid Certificate.

The Department of the Health said it working to increase capacity on the helpline but blames a "very high number of calls" for the difficulty on its first day of operation.

The number 1800 851 504 was provided for queries and for those who had recovered from Covid to apply for the cert.

Those who have been fully vaccinated are supposed to receive their certs automatically.

However, members of the public have complained that the helpline number appears to be down.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health acknowledged that people may have difficulty getting through.

"We are currently working to increase the capacity of the service centre. The helpline number is 1800 851 504 and is for queries relating to your vaccination certificate and/or requesting your recovery certificate".

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0719/1236027-covid-cert-helpline/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

I was wondering the same myself. But in the circular, it says:

"Where there is an intention to undertake travel overseas to any country which requires a restricted movement period on return to Ireland, all employees must make provision by way of an annual leave or unpaid leave application for that period of restricted movement, in line with the normal rules applying in the relevant sector. This arrangement is applicable to all civil and public servants regardless of whether they can work from home."

Therefore, as no restricted movement period applies for return from EU countries, therefore public servants no longer have to take leave when they come back.

For what it's worth Paul Reid was on the radio last week(pretty sure it was with Matt Cooper Thursday evening) and said that as far as he was concerned the opening up of travel from today also applied to HSE workers.

found it - from 11:20 onwards https://www.todayfm.com/shows/last-word-matt-cooper-234816

Any food or drink to be had in t2. August last year was a disaster.

Virtually every EU country I’m aware of requires 14 days post second Pfizer if you are relying on digital cert for entry. When you say “plenty of countries” don’t, are you referring to non-EU countries?

There seems to be talk of reintroducing face masks on the Balearics...I hope if they do this, it's more targeted. For example if you can social distance on a beach, surely you don't need to wear a mask.

The situation there seems to be stabilising over all with cases stable or declining, similar to Scotland. Hopefully Ireland & the rest of the EU has a similar experience with Delta. So wonderful to see the reports from the airports today.

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2021/07/19/87025/covid-cases-the-balearics.html

Yes, but it needs to be 14 days after the second vaccine ( or 14 days after a "one dose" vaccine).

A lot of people recently having received the second dose may get caught out.

If you've nothing helpful to say I suggest you say nothing. By the way it's a forum and I'm entitled to ask questions just like everyone else.

Quick question. I'm unvaccinated and am heading to Germany soon for 3 nights. I have a PCR booked in Frankfurt Airport for the return trip to Ireland. My family is worried that I might test positive and be held in Frankfurt for a while. I can walk in for my PCR at any time in Frankfurt so I was thinking of getting it on the day I arrive, to minimize the contact I'll have before the test. It'll be valid for 72hrs which extends beyond my flight home. Would this be feasible or could the airport deny my entry due to the PCR test taken almost 3 days before leaving?

Edit: My time spent there will involve minimal social interaction aside from buying food. But I want to assure my family as we'll be heading to the Canaries a few weeks after and any sort of complications will really mess things up!

Thanks!

It’s all good, relaxed and normal. Fairly quiet, not like high season. Masks currently required indoors.

Malaga airport is liable to be like a cattle station, so don’t be surprised. There are signs to keep 1.5m apart, but this is not practiced or enforced.

It is a little longer to get through the extra checks. There is a separate queue for families at the final document check, so look out for that.

You will be welcome in Spain, enjoy your break from the madness.

Thats good to hear. I'm not planning on going just yet - will wait to see how the delta wave goes, how the queues are, and how hysterical the parents I live with are (read: very). My boss is firmly in the "until theres a new circular, the previous one applies", so hopefully someone else will get to test it before I do!

Hi there,

I will get my second dose of Pfizer in 2 weeks time (Wednesday), and I have a medical appointment in my country (Spain) the following Monday, which means that I won't have time to get the "passport".

1. Is it possible to fly with the "paper"?
2. If not, I guess I can't fly at all because all tests (antigen or whatever) will be positive at the airport.

Is it any website or phone number I can use to get some information?

Thank you very much,

Yes - or fly to Belfast with no test and have someone collect you.