Border Testing Set To Be Eased Soon

All border testing for people arriving in Guernsey from the UK, Jersey and Isle of Man could soon be scrapped again. 

At the moment those incoming passengers have to buy £25 Lateral Flow testing kit. 

The Civil Contingencies Authority is considering removing all testing of travellers from the Common Travel Area. 

A decision will be made next Tuesday (18 January)

Fully-vaccinated people who have been outside the CTA could need a Lateral Flow Test on arrival rather than the current £25 PCR.

Those who aren’t at least double-jabbed will likely still need a day 1 and a day 8 test and must isolate until a second negative result.

The relaxation will happen 'if current trends continue' - with hospital cases and pressure on key services and businesses among the factors under consideration. 

The Authority says it is 'hopeful', and that it will continue to monitor  'any further changes in travel requirements brought in by other jurisdictions within the Common Travel Area'.

The CCA is also due to discuss how and when it can remove other Covid restrictions and guidance over the coming weeks.

“We’re encouraged to see case numbers coming down already following the arrival of Omicron, which has resulted in more active cases than we’ve previously seen at any other point in this pandemic.

The restrictions, both domestically and at the borders, are relatively light-touch compared to the more severe steps we’ve had to take earlier in the pandemic, and compared to what many other jurisdictions are doing now, because we have sought to allow life and business to continue with as much normality as possible. But even if the current restrictions are relatively few, we must not keep them in place for any longer than is absolutely necessary. So for that reason we have begun to plan how and when we can remove them.

I’m wary of making promises prematurely, mindful of how unpredictable this pandemic has been so far, but we want Islanders to know what we’re discussing in the CCA. I’m hopeful that following our next meeting we will be able to provide some positive news about relaxing testing requirements at the borders, and a bit more clarity on how quickly other measures can also be relaxed.”  - Deputy Peter Ferbrache.