Gardaí have appealed to motorists who are travelling to and from Covid-19 tests to not open their window if they are stopped at a Garda checkpoint en route, instead they should display their test appointment confirmation through the window.
Gardaí have expressed concerns after unmasked drivers who were on their way to a testing centre were rolled down their windows to talk to gardaí at checkpoints.
“Gardaí just want to raise awareness to motorists who are doing everything right otherwise and don’t realise the potential dangers of rolling down the window at checkpoints if they have symptoms of Covid-19.
“These motorists are stopping at various checkpoints around the county on their way to Ashbourne. They are on their own in the car and so are not wearing their masks.
“They are rolling down the windows and saying ‘How are you Garda, I’m just on my way to get a Covid-19 test.
“Most of the time, they just want Gardaí to know that they are out of their 5k limit because they have to be. However, by talking out the window without wearing a mask could potentially spread the virus onto the Garda they are talking to.
“In the interests of public health, we are just asking those motorists on the way for testing that if they are stopped at a checkpoint, please just show your test notification on your phone through the car window,” Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sgt. Dean Kerins, said.
