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Guernsey’s Welcome Team completed its final shift last night as the Bailiwick's covid-19 border restrictions came to an end.
People testing positive with covid-19 are no longer required by law to self-isolate and there are no legal requirements for travellers entering the Bailiwick to complete travel tracker forms or pass through infection controls.
The changes are part of the Civil Contingencies Authority's decision not to renew emergency regulations to control covid-19 and instead to rely on vaccines, immunity and voluntary infection control by the public.
Throughout the pandemic, Guernsey’s Welcome Team has been assisting arriving passengers with tests and travel trackers.
“What these guys have achieved has been absolutely phenomenal,” said Richard Evans, who is Programme Director for the States’ response to covid.
“They’ve been doing it in horrible weather. They’ve done it in the rain, when it’s freezing, when it’s really hot.
"They’ve done it in good humour and with amazing customer service.”
Pictured: The Welcome Team facility will now be deconstructed and removed from the airport soon.
Early in the pandemic, the States appointed a group of 30 staff to the Welcome Team. This number rose last summer with the help of students. Last night, 40 staff were at the island's ports - both the airport and St. Peter Port harbour - to finish the job. Some of them are pictured in the main image (top).
In total, 114 people gave their time to help passengers arriving in the Bailiwick during the course of the pandemic.
Fiona Ganneray of the Welcome Team said: “We’ve done pretty much everything: welcoming passengers, helping them test, explaining what the rules were, helping them with the travel tracker if they hadn’t done it, helping them connect even if they had done it.”
Another member of the Welcome Team, Jordan Riley, said: “Working with the Welcome Team over the past nine months has given me a lot of customer experience and has given me confidence."
Meetings are taking place this week between officials at the ports and elsewhere in the States to plan the decommissioning of the Welcome Team facilities.
“It needs to be done in a planned and logical way while keeping in mind that the pandemic is not yet over," said Mr Evans.
Pictured: Last night the final flights arrived in the island under infection border controls put in place by the Civil Contingencies Authority.
The Medical Officer of Health, Dr Nicola Brink, visited the airport last night to thank the Welcome Team for its service.
“I think people can’t underestimate the debt of gratitude we owe to the army of islanders who silently came forward to help us,” said Dr Brink.
“The Welcome Team, the Scheduling Team, they worked long and unsociable hours, and they’ve done it all with a smile and with grace.
“I think that’s a true gift that they’ve given to their fellow islanders.”
Pictured (left to right): Fiona Gannery, Michelle Tullier, Jackie Page and Jordan Riley of the Welcome Team.
The States are asking the public to act responsibly to help control the further spread of covid-19.
This includes: staying at home if they test positive for covid-19, continuing to adhere to good hygiene practices and respecting the decision of anyone who chooses to wear a mask in public places.
“I’m feeling hopeful and optimistic,” said Dr Brink.
“We’re in a good position and I think we need to capitalise on that good position.”
Jackie Page said she would miss her colleagues in the Welcome Team and is happy that she played her part in the island's response to the pandemic.
“I’m very proud to think that I helped the island,” she said.
Covid isolation and border rules to end on 17 February
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