Only essential travel permitted into the Bailiwick

Saturday 09 January 2021

Increasing Covid case numbers and rapid changes to travel restrictions in the United Kingdom have led the Civil Contingencies Authority to ban non-essential travel into the Bailiwick.

The CCA met twice this week and developments on the mainland have been monitored on a daily basis.

While numbers of travellers are low, and likely to reduce as a result of new restrictions and requirements for testing, Chief Minister Peter Ferbrache felt that increased restrictions were important to further reduce the risk of the virus being imported into the Bailiwick.

"We know the impact of even one case that enters our community undetected can have a serious impact on the freedoms we currently enjoy," he said.

"We are not like other jurisdictions who are managing COVID within their communities, we want to preserve the very good position we're in. The measures we have already at our borders have been extremely robust, and have kept our community safe.

"The move to essential-only travel does not replace those, all of the existing requirements remain. But if you have a visit to Guernsey planned that is not essential, then my message is this: cancel your plans, do not travel here."

Travel deemed essential under the new regulations includes compassionate travel, (including to support a dependent relative), to receive medical treatment or undertake 'essential' business that cannot be conducted remotely, to attend school or further education, or for permanent Bailiwick residents who are currently off-island to return.

Critical workers will also still be permitted to travel to Guernsey, provided that they are approved by the existing critical worker application process.

These policy changes come amidst an extension of the 'circuit-breaker' restrictions in Jersey, as well as a lockdown in the Isle of Man. CLICK HERE to read more on the developing situation in other jurisdictions.