A new airport testing service has opened to make more community PCR tests available to Jersey Islanders.
The testing service is in a new location at the arrivals building at the airport, next to where the arrivals testing takes place – not in the former location of the airport drive-through. The new testing service will provide up to 300 additional testing appointments per day.
Islanders who receive an appointment for a PCR test at the new airport testing service will be able to park in a free 30-minute short stay carpark next to the arrivals building, where they will be directed to the testing area inside of the arrivals hall. Islanders are asked to arrive on time to ensure testing appointments run on time and to avoid being charged for parking.
Additional testing booths have been re-opened at airport arrivals, to provide a separate flow for arriving passengers and those who are attending for a community PCR test. Wait times for arriving passengers awaiting a PCR test will not be impacted.
Islanders attending for a PCR test at the new airport testing service are required to wear a mask and to keep their distance from other people. Islanders should also have their QR code ready to present to staff before entering the building.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf, said “The new testing service at the airport arrivals hall will provide a capacity of up to 300 additional appointments every day for Islanders who are in need of a PCR test. I am pleased we will be able to provide these additional tests at a time when we are seeing increased demand as cases rise. I would like to thank the teams involved who continually work flexibly to ensure testing demand is met when it’s needed the most.
“I would like to remind all Islanders of the importance of testing for COVID-19 to mitigate the risk of spread of infection. It is vital for those who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 to ensure they are booking a test online and for those who test positive on an LFT test to submit their results online and attend for a PCR test. Anyone who submits a positive LFT test on the online portal, which is confirmed by a PCR test, will start their 10-day isolation period from the point their positive LFT test was submitted.
“To help reduce delays with PCR test appointments, I urge Islanders to keep to their original appointment time for their PCR test, as this allows the service to test people as quickly as possible.
“If someone is unable to attend their appointment and wants to rearrange it, they are asked to call the Coronavirus helpline on 0800 735 5566.”
