Green zone arrivals to take two tests

Thursday 24 September 2020

Anyone arriving in Jersey from a 'green zone' will have to take two covid tests from next week - but won't need to isolate in between.

From next Tuesday, passengers will receive a test on arrival and another five days later.

Passengers coming from amber zones will still have to isolate for five days and receive two negative tests before leaving quarantine, while those arriving from a red zone must still self-isolate for 14 days, even if they receive a negative result on arrival.

The change was announced during this morning's States Assembly sitting by the Chief Minister, who explained that green arrivals still won't need to isolate until their first test result, but added: "...once our turnaround times do get below 12 hours, we will bring this in for the first negative result."

Pictured: When Jersey's test processing lab reaches a turnaround of under 12 hours, passengers will have to self-isolate until they receive a negative result, the Chief Minister said.

Tuesday will also see the introduction of new travel restrictions breaking down UK regions at an even more granular level - by lower tier authority. Those classifications are due to be released today.

The Chief Minister revealed the new measures as part of a "package of preventative measures" to "keep cases low and stop clusters forming" and avoid a second lockdown this winter - something he said "would cost us lives in delayed healthcare for other conditions and would cost us livelihoods in loss of income and jobs."

He noted that further on-island mitigation measures were discussed by Ministers on Tuesday and are due to be publicly announced next week - including the compulsory use of masks in indoor public spaces like supermarkets, shops and the library.

While he said further details would be provided next week, the Chief Minister clarified: "This will not include wearing masks in workplaces and will sit alongside further community testing and screening of frontline staff and more targeted enforcement activity in the night-time economy and for those who should be isolating."

He has said, "I want to keep our lives, our livelihoods, and our economy on as clear and steady a course as possible through the winter. I want to keep our health services offering elective treatments"

— States Assembly (@StatesAssembly) September 24, 2020

Senator Le Fondré went on to emphasise that Jersey remains in a "good position" and that there have been no cases of covid transmission in the community.

However, he concluded by emphasising: "...We must not be complacent as a community. Physical distancing, frequent hand washing, the use of masks where appropriate and consideration for others remain vital in our fight against covid-19."

He continued: "I wish to express my gratitude to our medical professionals, officers across departments, colleagues in this Assembly, and to all islanders for their collective efforts.   

"We are in a more fortunate position than most jurisdictions, not only because of our geographic disposition, but also because of our economic resources, our PPE stocks and our testing capacity. 

"But most of all, especially thanks to the cooperation of Islanders who continue to prove their resilience and determination to reduce the transmission of covid-19 and to keep Jersey safe."