Guernsey enters Phase 5c

Wednesday 28 October 2020

On-arrival testing and travel tracking are now part of Guernsey's strategy to combat covid, as the island enters the next phase of exit from lockdown.

Although travel is still highly restricted at the moment due to the situation in neighbouring jurisdictions, the changes being implemented today aim to make it easier for people to travel once the global number of cases begins to drop.

As part of the new phase, countries and jurisdictions will be categorised differently to how they have they been previously, moving from Groups A, B and C, to Categories One, Two, Three and Four.

Currently, all jurisdictions that have direct contact with Guernsey are in either Category Three or Four, meaning travellers will have to isolate for at least seven days.

However, they will all be asked to carry out a self-test on arrival, to give Public Health a better idea of where they may have contracted the virus if their results come back positive later on.

Pictured: The new categories introduced in Phase 5c.

When the level of cases drops, countries might move into Category Two. That means travellers will still carry out their test on arrival, but will only have to isolate until their results come back, so long as they are negative.

They will then go into enhanced passive follow-up, preventing them from going to indoor venues like restaurants, clubs, cafes, pubs, gyms, swimming pools, theatres or cinemas until their day seven test results come back. They can go to indoor shops but only to buy essential items.

Those in enhanced passive follow-up won't be allowed to use public transport, unless it is a taxi with appropriate precautions in place.

Anyone working in public facing roles won't be allowed to return to work straight away and children in enhanced passive follow-up will not be allowed to go to school.

Pictured: Travellers will have to be tested when they arrive in the island.

They will be asked to wear a face mask and practice social distancing whilst outside their home, including at work.

Phase 5c also brings the introduction of a new Travel Tracker website, which aims to keep tabs on where people have visited while speeding up the testing process. Anyone travelling to the Bailiwick will be required to provide their details and travel history before setting off on their journey, and the site will advise them as to how long they must isolate.

People are still able to move freely between the islands that make up the Bailiwick.

For more information about travelling in Phase 5c, click HERE.

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Pictured top: An on-arrival testing facility set up at the harbour.