Covid: red travel list update

At midday today, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe were added to Jersey’s red list countries, to align with the UK’s Joint Biosecurity Centre.

Passengers arriving in Jersey who have been in any of these countries will now be required to undertake 3 PCR tests - on the day of arrival, and on days five and ten - and will be required to isolate until they receive a third negative test result.

Mirroring the UK Government’s approach, anyone who has recently arrived in Jersey, and has travelled to any of the six red list countries in the last 14 days, should book a PCR test immediately, followed by a second PCR test 5 days later, regardless of whether they have already tested negative. Islanders are asked to call the Coronavirus helpline on 0800 735 5566 to book their PCR tests.

From 4am on Sunday 28 November, passengers arriving in the UK who have recently visited any of the Red List countries will have to enter Managed Quarantine (quarantine hotel) in the UK for 10 days, at their own cost. This includes passengers who are travelling onwards to Jersey. Until then, the existing transit arrangements remain in place. 

Passengers who complete a 10-day Managed Quarantine in the UK before travelling to Jersey will be treated as standard arrivals on arriving here, and should pre-register in the normal way.

These arrangements apply to all arriving passengers, including private maritime and private aviation. All arriving passengers and crew must complete pre-travel registration. 

Direct flights from any of these 6 countries are banned.

Sequencing of positive PCR test results continues to provide a good level of surveillance for variants in Jersey.

Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, said: “There is a strong South African community in Jersey and I am aware of families who are planning to travel to the affected countries to visit family and friends over the Christmas period. I would like to extend my sympathies to the families who have been required to change their travel plans unexpectedly. 

“Ministers are receiving regular updates from Public Health and the Scientific and Technical Advisory (STAC) to keep abreast of the emerging variant and to consider any changes to our Safer Travel Policy. Our sequencing of positive PCR tests remains in place, to provide surveillance on any potential variants.

“I would like to remind Islanders who have returned from any of the six red list countries within the last 14 days to contact the Coronavirus helpline and book two PCR tests – the first test should be attended immediately, and the second should be booked for 5 days after the first.”