Update from Director, Human Resources, Director, College Health Service and Head of Safety to all staff
17 December 2020
Dear colleagues,
As we come to the end of 2020, we appreciate that it’s been a difficult year for everyone and that you are looking forward to your break, including during the College closure period from 24th December 2020 to 3rd January 2021 (inclusive).
We all need to ensure we continue to follow the Government public health advice to ensure the safety of our staff, students and wider society. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Public Health general advice for overseas travel remains ‘Avoid non-essential travel’ or in some cases, ‘Do not travel’.
It is important to understand that if you do decide to travel abroad over the Christmas period for non-essential travel, despite the current advice, and if on return you are required to restrict your movements for 14 days, you will need to take annual leave or unpaid leave to facilitate this period of restricted movement. Working from home during this period is not an option as per the norm across the wider public sector.
Ireland has implemented the EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel , which applies to countries in the EU/EEA (+ UK). Anyone coming into Ireland (apart from Northern Ireland and individuals arriving in Ireland from locations with a security rating of normal precautions “green”), is required to restrict their movements for 14 days.
Please note that the 14-day period of restricted movements can end if you receive a negative/’not detected’ result of a PCR test that has been taken a minimum of five days after your arrival in Ireland. You should wait for your negative test result to be returned before ending the period of restricted movements.
You can then contact your manager to arrange your return to work if the negative result is received before the 14-day period of restricted movements ends. Confirmation of the PCR test appointment and the result should be provided to your manager in advance of your return. You will not be permitted to return to work before the 14-day period of restricted movements ends without this confirmation.
In order to protect public health, you are required to advise your employer of any intention to travel overseas in all instances. The security rating of countries will be regularly reviewed by the Government and may change while you are abroad, and you should be aware that whatever restricted movement requirements are in place on the date of your return to Ireland will apply to you. You should log on to www.dfa.ie immediately prior to your return to Ireland to ensure you are fully apprised of any changes to the security rating of countries, and any necessary requirement to restrict your movements on return.
As advice and guidance is changing on a regular basis, please ensure you keep up to date by checking all the latest COVID19 information on our Trinity COVID19 Website.
If you have any queries on the above, please contact hr@tcd.ie.
Wishing you all a lovely break, stay safe.
Kind regards
Ms Antoinette Quinn, Director, Human Resources
Ms Antoinette Quinn, Stiúrthóir na nAcmhainní Daonna
Dr David McGrath, Director, College Health Service
An Dr Daithi Mac Craith, Stiúrthóir, Seirbhís Sláinte an Choláiste
Dr Katharine Murray, Head of Safety
An Dr Katharine Murray, Ceann na Sábháilteachta