22 April 2021
From Monday 26 April, arrivals into Jersey from the
UK and Crown Dependencies will be classified based on the Red, Amber or Green
(RAG) traffic light system depending on the number of active COVID-19 cases per
100k, per region.
The traffic light system applies for England, Wales,
Scotland, Northern Ireland, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. International travel
classifications will not resume until Monday 17 May at the earliest.
The system applies to everyone arriving in Jersey,
regardless of how they travel, the length of stay or the frequency of travel in
and out of the Island and all passengers must complete a pre-registration form,
48 hours prior to arrival.
On arrival, passengers are given a free Polymerase Chain
Reaction (PCR) swab and on Day 5 and Day 10 regardless of their RAG
classification. Those who opt out of the testing programme are required to
isolate for 14 days. Those entering the Island from green zones will
have to isolate until they have a negative result from their arrival
test.
The PCR test involves a swab being taken from the
back of the throat and nose by a trained professional. Results are processed in
Jersey’s on-Island lab, with turn around results in less than 24 hours. Anyone
who receives a positive test will have to isolate in line with Public Health
guidance.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy
Richard Renouf said: “This is an important step in the Island’s reconnection
stages. Many of us have eagerly awaited this time when we can start to move freely
again to see family and friends in the UK and other Crown Dependencies.
"Our management of COVID-19 and the health and
wellbeing of Islanders remains our top priority and this reopening has been
assessed as being safe, in combination with our other public health measures,
including our vaccination programme.
“We cannot stay closed off forever, and evidence
shows us that the UK is in far better position than previous months, with lower
active cases of COVID-19 across vast areas. We will continually monitor the impact of reopening
borders and plan to take a cautious approach to seeing how travel might impact
on active cases and any ongoing transmission in Jersey.”
RAG classifications will be updated on a weekly
basis with publication each Thursday to come into effect the following Tuesday
at 00:01.
Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat
said: “Our ongoing vaccination programme has so far protected more than 50% of
Islanders, with 32% of adults now fully vaccinated and protected against severe
illness from COVID but this, unfortunately, does not mean the end of COVID.
“Border controls and rigorous testing of all
arrivals are another element within the ongoing COVID-19 strategy, to resume
normality but keep people safe at the same time. Our active case control will
continue, and our vaccination programme does not negate any need to continue
following public health guidelines at this time.
“We must continue adapting as needed to this virus
which we are still learning about. The summer should offer Jersey, a welcome
break from the restrictions we have seen this winter, but Islanders should not
become complacent to the risk of COVID-19.”
Travellers can search for the region and classification they want to travel to and from by using the search tool on
gov.je/travel and reading the safer
travel guidance.
gov.je