Use of the Covid-19 isolation exemption scheme (FOI)

Request

Please could you provide usage details of the covid-19 isolation exemption scheme for those arriving in Jersey? For clarity, this is the scheme I am talking about:

Permission not to self-isolate for work purposes (critical workers)

Specifically

• number of people using it

• reason for people using it

• if exempt for work, please specify the users role and industry

• date in which it was used

I understand that this question has been answered before but I would like the same information but up until the present day.

Response

Data for 2020:

In 2020 there was 419 exemption applications approved.

Data for 2021:

1 January 2021 to 5 February 2021:

Exemption applications approved: 110

Total number of exempt workers: 186

Compassionate requests approved: 29

(Reason for approval: funeral / end of life relative in hospital / end of life relative in care home).

Medical exemptions approved: 18 (surgeon emergency / medical engineer emergency / rehabilitation medical appointment / emergency medical appointment)

06 February 2021 to 18 February 2021:

Exemption applications approved: 99

Total number of exempt workers: 155

Compassionate requests approved: 6

(Reason for approval: funeral / end of life relative in hospital / end of life relative in care home)

Medical exemptions approved: 3 (surgeon emergency / medical engineer emergency / rehabilitation medical appointment / emergency medical appointment)

19 February 2021 to 26 February 2021:

Exemption applications approved: 81

Total number of exempt workers: 166

Compassionate requests approved: 3

(Reason for approval: funeral / end of life relative in hospital / end of life relative in care home)

Medical exemptions approved: 5 (surgeon emergency / medical engineer emergency / rehabilitation medical appointment / emergency medical appointment)

27 February 2021 to 8 March 2021:

Exemption applications approved: 85

Total number of exempt workers: 145

Compassionate requests approved: 11

(Reason for approval: funeral / end of life relative in hospital / end of life relative in care home)

Medical exemptions approved: 8 (surgeon emergency / medical engineer emergency / rehabilitation medical appointment / emergency medical appointment)

Grand total for 1 January 2021 to 8 March 2021

Exemption applications approved: 375

Total number of exempt workers: 652

Compassionate exemptions: 49

Medical exemptions: 34

Note: Some companies have a rotation system with their workers, who are traveling to Jersey on a regular basis.

There are approximately 150 different roles from 70 different companies. The vast majority of these are from the Construction sector. Requests from other sectors such as Healthcare, Agriculture, Animal Welfare, Finance, and Mechanics are also received.

One individual who had been granted an exemption has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. The exemption was immediately withdrawn, and the individual was instructed to isolate as per the usual testing and isolation policy in place at the time.