Passengers on Blue Island flights to Jersey may be tested for Covid-19 in a new trial.
According to Minister for Health and Social Services Deputy Richard Renouf, the island’s test and trace programme could be expanded to ports, allowing freer movement in and out of Jersey.
‘First of all we will conduct trial studies to rigorously test inbound passengers on the lifeline Blue Island flights and then, when we choose to safely open the airport to commercial airlines, to passengers at risk of bringing Covid-19 into the island,’ said the minister in a statement.
Jersey currently has a 14-day self-isolation policy in place for anyone arriving in the island. How to ease border controls, while protecting public health, is one of the biggest questions facing its government.
Giving passengers a choice between quarantine or PCR tests on arrival has been mooted, as has the possibility of only allowing passengers to travel to the island if they have a ‘negative certificate,’ proving they do not have the virus.
‘We are currently in the early policy development stage of exploring possible rigorous testing regimes that could be used to protect our borders,’ said a Government of Jersey spokesperson.
‘Health and policy officials are looking at a range of approaches that could be right for Jersey in the future when commercial travel may resume. Our Scientific and Technology Advisory Cell will be carefully considering rigorous border testing regimes before advice is given to ministers.’
