Jersey's borders to reopen from 3 July

Jersey's borders will reopen from 3 July, the Economic Development Minister has announced.

At a press conference on Friday (26 June), Senator Lyndon Farnham said the island is in a "strong position" for travel to and from the island to resume, subject to a vote in the States Assembly next week.

He added that all travellers will need to either take part in a Covid-19 test upon arrival, or be required to complete a 14-day isolation.

Those who are tested will not need to isolate until they get their results, but will need to maintain physical distancing.

The External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, added that it is impractical to continue living in lockdown until a vaccine is created.

Arrangements are being put in place to ensure private boat owners and their passengers arriving in Jersey are tested for coronavirus, if - as expected - borders reopen on 3 July.

The government has confirmed to ITV News that full details will be published this week alongside the already-announced testing stations at the airport and Elizabeth Harbour Terminal.

People travelling from the Channel Islands to France have been told quarantine, on arrival, will be purely voluntary.

The guidance has been issued by the French Embassy in London and comes ahead of the intention to reopen Jersey’s borders on Friday 3 July.

The government had recently come under increasing pressure to reopen the borders in order to help businesses that have struggled as a result of the pandemic.

There are currently six active cases of coronavirus in Jersey - all are asymptomatic. So far, none have been identified from airport testing.