States launches Travel Tracker

Monday 26 October 2020

A new online 'Travel Tracker' is being launched this morning that will speed up the on-arrival testing system due to be implemented this Wednesday.

As things stand, Guernsey will move into phase 5c of the States' exit from lockdown strategy on 28 October.

One of the key changes for the new phase is the introduction of testing on arrival at the airport and harbour, for the vast majority of arrivals into the Bailiwick.

The Travel Tracker asks anyone travelling to the Bailiwick to provide information, such as their travel history, before their journey. The Travel Tracker can be filled out two days or less before the journey.

States Chief Executive Paul Whitfield said the web portal had been developed in order to make the testing on arrival process as effective and efficient as possible.

“We’re now at the stage where we’re ‘switching over’ from phase 5b to phase 5c and operationally this is probably the most complicated step we’ve taken since we first went into lockdown," he said. "Our teams have had to build entirely new processes and develop digital solutions incredibly quickly.

Pictured: Travellers should prepare for slight delays in getting through the ports due to the introduction of on-arrival testing. 

"On Wednesday the first arrivals under phase 5c rules will come into the Bailiwick. They will be the first to use the Travel Tracker and to be tested on arrival. I’m confident that things will go smoothly, and if and where they don’t our Welcome team on the ground will support anyone who needs extra help as they arrive.”

Anyone arriving in Guernsey before Wednesday does not need to fill out the Travel Tracker as the paper forms that arrivals are required to fill out currently, as part of phase 5b, will still be a requirement.

For those travelling to Guernsey from Wednesday onwards, new guidance and video guides are being created for people entering the Bailiwick by sea and air. These, as well as the Travel Tracker, can be found on https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/travel.

From Wednesday, new categories and thresholds for countries and regions will also come into effect, with the ‘Group A, B and C countries’ replaced by ‘Categories 1 – 4’. At this point, all of the destinations that Guernsey has direct links to would fall into Category 3 or 4. People can still move freely between the islands that make up the Bailiwick.