Select a region
The Civil Contingencies Authority has decided to tighten up Guernsey’s border restrictions even further, with the announcement that on arrival and day 13 negative tests will be needed to secure release from isolation on day 14.
The changes will come into effect from Wednesday. Currently, travellers only need a negative test on day 13 to be released from isolation, with a mandatory further eight days quarantine for those who decline that test.
Only essential travel is permitted into the island following a meeting of the CCA last week.
Further restrictions now mean you need a test on-arrival and a test on day 13 – both negative – to be released on day 14. If any traveller into Guernsey turns that down. they will have to spend 21 days in isolation.
Pictured: CCA Chairman Peter Ferbrache described the new requirements as a 'belt and braces' approach.
Children under the age of 12 will only need a negative test on day 13 and if a traveller is self-isolating in a bubble, everyone in that bubble will need a negative day 13 test as well.
“Asking people to take a test on arrival and on day 13 of their self-isolation enables us to pick up all travellers who are Covid-19 positive on arrival (and who are asymptomatic),” said Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink.
“The day 1 test is also beneficial for track and trace purposes should this be needed.”
Pictured: There is no change for critical workers who need to comply with specific self-isolation and testing requirements.
Chair of the CCA, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, has doubled down on protecting the island and making sure the virus does not get into the community.
“As I said at the media briefing on Friday, we have put in place measures to ban all non-essential travel into the Bailiwick. Those who must travel for critical or essential reasons need to work with us to protect the Bailiwick from Covid-19. Asking travellers to have a negative day 1 and day 13 test result is a belt and braces approach to pick up early and late presenting infections.”
Pictured top: Inbound travellers will need a swab on arrival or have to commit to 21 days self-isolation.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.