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With just days to go until Guernsey enters the next phase of exit from lockdown, the States have issued further information for anyone planning on travelling to the Bailiwick from next week.
As of Monday, countries will be categorised into Group A, B or C, with different rules for people coming to the island from each group.
Anyone coming from Group A will still have to self-isolate for 14 days, while those heading to Guernsey from a Group B jurisdiction will only need to quarantine for seven days, provided they receive a negative test at the end of the week. Travellers coming from Group C won't need to isolate at all, though the only jurisdiction currently listed in the category is the Isle of Man, which also has no active corona virus cases.
According to the updated list of countries, the UK will be considered Group B, along with more than 70 other jurisdictions including Jersey and France - although France is currently on a 'watch list' and could move into Group A if case numbers continue to rise.
To be considered Group A, a country must have more than 30 cases per 100,000 people over seven consecutive days, unless there are other prevailing Public Health concerns that trigger Group A categorisation.
Pictured: France is in danger of being moved into Group A.
A Group B country will be placed on the watch list if its rate of cases has increased for seven days in a row or if there are more than 30 cases per 100,000 people for fewer than seven consecutive days.
Meanwhile, those in Group C must have completely eliminated covid-19, although this may change if the Bailiwick starts to see more cases again.
The list of countries will be kept up-to-date HERE.
“The criteria focuses primarily on the prevalence of covid-19 in a country and therefore the potential risk of travel or tourism-related spread to our islands," explained Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink. "The criteria also takes into account other factors, such as how widely a country is testing its population which could impact on the data’s reliability.
"Initially, we are keeping things simple and determining the categories country by country. However, we will be looking at if we can implement regional classifications of a country in the future. We’re continuing to review whether this is effective and workable, and we may move to regional categories in some cases, in the coming weeks.”
Pictured: Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink.
In line with the new rules, passengers travelling to the island will be given a form to complete before they land, in which they will have to list all the countries they have visited in the last seven days.
When they arrive, they will need to show this form along with their ID to someone from the Guernsey Border Agency, who will tell them how long they must self-isolate for. They can then leave the airport or harbour and travel directly to their self-isolation location.
Those arriving on a private aircraft or vessel will be required to follow the same steps.
"The approach we're taking now is not the same as when we ran the pilot for testing on day seven, because of the added complexity of treating countries as Group A or B - something we all remember from the early days of the pandemic," said Rebecca Falla of the Guernsey Border Agency. "Combining those two measures means we are doing more to mitigate the risks against new cases coming into the Bailiwick, but it also makes the process more complicated.
Pictured: Everyone arriving at the airport or harbour will have to fill out a form.
"Our officers and representatives will be working hard to help people through that process as they arrive, and where there are questions we will do our best to answer them. But it is an entirely new process and there are bound to be some teething problems, so I’m hoping those travelling will be patient with us if we find there are issues we need to iron out in the first few days.”
Travellers coming from a Group B country will be expected to arrange their own transport to their day seven test - either using a private car or a taxi.
They will then be contacted 24 to 48 hours after with their result.
For further information and guidance on travelling to and from the Bailiwick, click HERE.
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