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The government's key scientific advisory group is reviewing guidance on travel between Jersey and France after it emerged that the Brittany region - which includes Saint Malo - has the highest level of virus transmission in the whole country.
The matter is one of a number of items on today's agenda for Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC), which is also reviewing a possible step down to 'Level 1' lockdown and the wearing of masks.
Ferry travel between Jersey and France officially started on Friday, with Condor resuming its Saint Malo route.
However, as reported by Express this morning, Brittany became France's main covid transmission hotspot that same day, with its 'R number' - otherwise known as a virus reproduction number - hit 2.62, which means infection is actively spreading.
Pictured: A Government of Jersey graphic showing the 'R' value earlier in the pandemic.
That is the highest value across the whole of France, which as a country carries an 'R' number of 1.18.
Anything over 1 suggests the virus is spreading, whereas if the number is less than 1, it means it will eventually peter out. The number is a measure of how many other people an infected person is likely to give the virus to.
An 'R' value of 2.62 is similar to the value in Jersey at the peak of the pandemic, back in March.
When Express contacted the government on Friday, officials emphasised that the island's traveller testing regime was "one of the most robust in Europe" and reiterated that “France is currently classified as green" under their 'traffic light' system.
But that position appears to have changed, with officials reporting this afternoon that Brittany's infection rates are now being actively reviewed.
A spokesperson commented: “The Government of Jersey is reviewing the new infection rates for Covid-19 in Brittany following the Region’s latest health bulletin.
“There have been 123 new cases in the Region since July 15 and this has resulted in a rise in its R rate.
“We continue to test all passengers arriving in Jersey, and track and trace the contacts of those who test positive for covid-19.”
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