Coronavirus testing for people arriving at Jersey Airport to be trialled
A border testing scheme will be trialled in Jersey.
Participating passengers will be tested for Covid-19 on arrival at Jersey Airport under the trial which begins today (Friday 29 May).
Those who test negative for the virus will not have to self-isolate for the full 14 days, but will have toself-isolate until they have their initial test results and must have follow-up tests.
Other restrictions on travel still apply and any off-island travel will need to be pre-authorised.
How will it work?
Passengers arriving on 'lifeline' Blue Islands services will be given the option of taking part in the trial from Monday 1 June.
Passengers who choose not to participate in the trial will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Those who agree to take part will be tested for Covid-19 at the airport, receiving an initial swab (polymerase chain reaction or ‘PCR’ test) to determine if they show as having the virus. They must self-isolate until they receive the results of this test, which will be within 48 hours.
Those who test negative would be given written permission not to self-isolate, but would have to be tested again in the days that follow.
On the fourth day, this would be a finger-prick dual blood test, also known as a serology test.
Participants may also have to take further PCR tests on the fourth and seventh days of their stay. Any passenger who tests positive for the virus at any stage will be required to self-isolate.
Passengers with existing bookings with Blue Islands bookings will be contacted by Jersey Customs and Immigration Service before they depart to explain how it will work and ask if they would like to participate.
People making new bookings will be given the option to be included in the trial when applying for their pre-travel authorisation.