Guernsey has developed a new testing-on-arrival programme as it plans for the next phase of its Exit from Lockdown strategy.
No date has been set for the introduction of Phase 5c, which will reduce self-isolation time to potentially hours, not days, for passengers arriving from Group B countries.
The new programme is forecast to cost approximately £3.7m for the first six months, plus a capital cost of £600,000.
At the end of September, new equipment is expected to arrive that will increase Guernsey’s on-island testing capability to a potential 2,000 tests a day. Additional skilled staff are being recruited while others are undergoing training, and construction for the testing facilities at the ports is already underway.
‘Phase 5c will make travel a much more viable option for many of us. Those travelling from Group B countries will need to observe only a very short self-isolation period to allow for test results on entry at the ports to be processed, provided those tests return “negative,”’ said Deputy Gavin St Pier, Chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority.
‘We have set a tight deadline for the public service to design and deliver a model for Phase 5c that is ready to go, as and when the CCA decides it is right to make the change and that work is nearly complete. But, and it is a very big “but,” the CCA has not yet decided to make that move, and has not set any date as to when that should happen.’
What is Phase 5c?
Countries will continue to be treated as either Group A, B or C, with regional classifications under consideration for future implementation.
All travellers to Guernsey will need to register the details of their travel 48 hours before their journey. This will be done on a new website currently in development, which will allow for the easy flow of data between key the Guernsey Border Agency, Public Health and other agencies. This supports Guernsey’s ‘track and trace’ capability.
As is currently the case, arrivals from Group A countries will need to observe a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period. This will not change, although passengers will be asked to test on arrival to allow for Public Health to contact trace, if necessary.
Arrivals from Group B destinations, who currently have the option of a seven-day test, will be able to test on arrival and remain in self-isolation only until they receive a negative result from that first test. These travellers will be required to test again on day seven.
Other than having to pre-register their travel details online, there will be no change to travel arrangements for Group C countries, critical workers or those using business tunnels.
Testing in Phase 5c
Travellers will be required to take supervised self-swab test. Self-swabbing will speed up the process, though it may impact the overall efficiency of testing.
To mitigate this, testing will be supervised and clear instruction will be available in each testing booth. Video instructions will be available prior to travel, and on-site support staff will be available to help.
Children under 12 and still at primary school will not be required to test, and those unable to self-test will be referred to a testing team.
The test must immediately be handed in at the on-site testing facility. Travellers will also be able to collect a self-swab kit and instructions for their day-seven test, with guidance on submitting it at a designated test drop-off point, which will be alongside the existing testing facility at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
Testing will be done at purpose-built facilities at the airport and harbour terminals, and on the East Arm of North Beach, which will be for car passengers arriving by ferry.
(Feature image courtesy of Tony Brassell via Unsplash)
