The Bailiwick of Guernsey has achieved consistent, sustained control of the virus that causes COVID-19, but it remains vulnerable to re-introduction, particularly whilst surrounding jurisdictions are experiencing high rates of infection.
Guernsey’s testing programme for travellers has been developed to mitigate the risk of reintroduction of COVID-19 with the dual aims of:
- Detecting more infections in travellers before they can be spread to the community; and
- Achieving early detection of any escaped cases/clusters, which can be targeted with the test/trace/isolate processes to interrupt any ongoing transmission and snuff out outbreaks before they lead to widespread community transmission.
To help find and extinguish any ‘missed’ infections and thereby stop the virus taking hold in the islands, end of isolation testing on Day 13 is being offered to travellers. This is to detect late presenting infections and is in line with ECDC guidance.
This is a pilot scheme which will offer testing on day 13 to those travellers self-isolating where capacity allows. You will be called by the Scheduling Team to arrange a test either at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital or the Mignot Memorial Hospital in Alderney. You do not need to call the team to arrange this for yourself.
The pilot will cover the period of time when the majority of students will be returning to the Bailiwick. A negative test on day 13 will be very reassuring to them, their families and the community.
Testing on day 13 will allow those on the scheme who receive a negative day 13 test result to leave self isolation immediately, though those tested as part of a family or group will have to wait for each member to receive a negative test result. More information can be found here, and further information and conditions of participation will be provided to those who take part.
Whilst there is benefit to travellers of taking a day 13 test, it presents a significant benefit to the community by picking up late presenting infections before the end of the 14 day self-isolation period.
