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Emergency brake region and red zone rules will no longer apply to passengers arriving in Jersey from the UK who are fully vaccinated against covid from next week.
The change, which will come into force at 00:01 next Tuesday (15 June), was one of two major covid travel relaxations for the UK confirmed by Government this afternoon.
All parts of the UK previously classified as ‘amber’ will also be treated as green from now on, leaving only green and emergency brake (red) regions.
Green, amber and red travel classifications will continue to apply for international travel, however, with Jersey following the UK’s system with the exceptions of countries with which the island has direct connectivity.
The Government has also confirmed that emergency brakes will be applied to 28 more parts of the UK from Sunday 13 June (full list below).
Pictured: 'Vaccine passports' are now being sent out to islanders who have had both doses of the covid vaccine.
This is in addition to the existing 26 emergency brake regions, which will remain in place for a further two weeks. It means that, from Sunday, there will be a total of 54 ‘red’ regions.
Anyone arriving in Jersey from these areas who is not fully vaccinated in the Common Travel Area (CTA) will have to take a PCR test on arrival, and then again on days 5 and 10 of their isolation - they can only leave isolation once they receive a negative result from the day 10 test.
However, from Tuesday, those who have had both covid jabs in the CTA will no longer be affected by this rule, and will instead be considered ‘green’. This means a test on day 0 with only a few hours' isolation until their result, and another on day 8.
The Government said a further easing of travel rules would be considered by STAC and the Ministers once they had a better understanding of the more transmissible Delta variant, which was first identified in India.
Officials said they were working on expanding today’s relaxations to areas with which the island has frequent and direct connectivity like France and Madeira, and were seeking to establish “bilateral arrangements”.
Pictured: Today's travel relaxations may soon be extended to nearby jurisdictions like France, officials hope.
UK Health Minister Matt Hancock said today that 91% of new cases in the UK are the Delta variant. It was reported earlier this week that only 2% of hospital patients in the UK with the Delta variant were fully vaccinated.
The number of covid cases recorded in Jersey now stands at 22 – with several cases linked to private parties and hospitality venues – and 342 people are in isolation as direct contacts. Five were recorded in the past 24 hours - three through contact tracing, one identified as they were seeking healthcare, and one through inbound travel.
The final stage of Jersey’s covid reopening plan - including lifting limits on guests at private house and garden parties, and the return of nightclubbing and stand-up drinking - was delayed yesterday as a result to allow contact tracers time to catch up with the effects of the community spread. However, it was decided that masks would no longer be a requirement in most locations from Monday.
Since Wednesday 9 June, 5 new cases have been identified. 1 case has been identified through seeking healthcare, 1 case has been identified through inbound travel and 3 cases have been identified through contact tracing. pic.twitter.com/HQuTLuEv3F
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) June 10, 2021
Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said consideration of the demographic of recent covid cases, vaccination levels, and the need to maintain connectivity had factored into today’s decision on travel.
“While there has been a slight uptick in known active cases in Jersey, we know that the people who are testing positive are, in general, younger and therefore less likely to become seriously ill with the virus. The vaccine is working to protect the more vulnerable,” he said.
“Vaccination coverage is good in both Jersey and the rest of the Common Travel Area, and we will continue to allocate Emergency Brake status to areas of the UK that have particularly high or rising numbers of Delta Covid cases.
“…Bearing in mind the efficient testing and contact-tracing processes in operation here, we believe these changes are proportionate and will maintain connectivity while also protecting islanders.”
According to statistics released today, nearly six in 10 islanders are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 84% of islanders over 30 have had at least one dose.
From Sunday 13 June, islanders aged between 18 and 24 years old will be able to book the first dose of the covid vaccine, with appointments starting from the next day.
We've published the latest statistics regarding the number of COVID-19 vaccines delivered as at Sunday, 6 June 2021.
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) June 10, 2021
Statistics are published twice a week. Figures will be updated online, every Monday for the previous Wednesday, and every Thursday for the previous Sunday. pic.twitter.com/rjQR4GLx4o
Local students returning from university who have not already received their first dose will be able to get their vaccine in Jersey. They will also be eligible to get their second dose in the island, but should call the helpline to book an appointment if their first dose was administered outside of Jersey.
The Government has provided the below infographic to explain. CLICK to enlarge it...
The following regions will turn 'red' from Sunday at midnight:
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