Lifting of travel restrictions: States Assembly approval (P.68/2020) – second amendment [P.68/2020 Amd.(2)]

STATES OF JERSEY

LIFTING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: STATES ASSEMBLY APPROVAL (P.68/2020) – SECOND AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 23rd June 2020 by Deputy K.F. Morel of St. Lawrence

STATES GREFFE

2020  P.68 Amd.(2)

LIFTING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: STATES ASSEMBLY APPROVAL (P.68/2020) – SECOND AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (a) –

Insert the following new paragraph (a) –

"to request the Council of Ministers to present a report detailing the results of the pilot of testing at the ports, to include the numbers of passenger arrivals, the number of passengers tested, and a breakdown of the results, including numbers of passengers opting for self-isolation;",

and re-designate the subsequent paragraphs accordingly.

2  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH (b) –

New paragraph (b), after the words "the States Assembly" insert the words –

", who should have before them the results of the pilot testing at the ports, as detailed in paragraph (a);".

DEPUTY K.F. MOREL OF ST. LAWRENCE

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

1. to request the Council of Ministers to present a report detailing theresults of the pilot of testing at the ports, to include the numbers ofpassenger arrivals, the number of passengers tested, and a breakdownof the results, including numbers of passengers opting for self-isolation;
2. that  the  current  travel  restrictions  allowing  only  those  who  are undertaking necessary travel to and from Jersey should not be lifted without the prior approval of the States Assembly who should havebefore them the results of the pilot testing at the ports as detailed inparagraph (a);
3. that no-one should be allowed to travel to Jersey without having first been tested for Covid-19 and providing proof thereof;
4. to request the Council of Ministers to develop a proposed policy for travel to and from Jersey (incorporating a detailed plan of action for implementation and monitoring of the policy) to permit more, safe travel to and from Jersey; and
5. to request the Council of Ministers to distribute the proposed policy to States Members at least 5 days before the debate on any proposition seeking  the  Assembly's  approval  of  lifting  the  current  travel restrictions.

REPORT

In order for the States Assembly to be in a position to debate the situation at the ports, it will be important for States Members to understand the efficacy of the testing regime being undertaken at the ports. This amendment is designed solely to ensure that this data will be provided to States Members in advance of such a debate in the event that the main proposition is passed.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial or manpower implications arising from the adoption of this amendment, beyond those stated in P.68/2020.

P.68/2020 REPORT

Only those who qualify for necessary travel may travel to or from the Island under the current restrictions and require Jersey Customs and Immigration Service authorisation at the time of booking their travel. https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Travel/Pages/CoronavirusTravelAdvice.aspx.

The current guidance is very restricted, and quite rightly so, with a further requirement of 14 days self-isolation on arrival in the Island. Jersey has done well in controlling and reducing the cases of Covid-19 up to this point.

Many Islanders are concerned about the potential for an increase in the spread of this virus  once  the  ports  reopen  (air  and  sea)  with  travellers  arriving  from  various destinations. Given that our main business and tourist market centres around the U.K., which appears to be the worst affected country in Europe, travel to and from the U.K. requires major consideration.

10 weeks of lockdown has, undoubtedly, led to concerns in relation to people's mental health and a trip off-Island would undoubtedly be welcome. For the record I am not averse to the opening of the borders but understand that many Islanders do fear what will happen when the borders reopen.

The decision to lift or ease the current restrictions is one of such importance that I believe it is one that should be taken by the States Assembly, rather than the smaller number of Ministers and officials in the Emergencies Council.

The current restrictions require all those arriving to self-isolate for 14 days and, as such, will cause damage in particular to the tourism industry. Although a border-testing trial programme  is  being  introduced  at  Jersey  Airport  on  arriving  passengers,  this,  if successful, would only be part of the solution.

I am proposing that passengers are not allowed to come to Jersey unless they can provide proof that they have tested negative for Covid-19. Tests could be carried out at the points of departure to ensure up-to-date results and those who test positive are not allowed to travel to Jersey. Various questions would arise from agreement to paragraph (b) of the above proposition – for example who pays for the test? – but these can be addressed.

I have heard that passengers returning from hotspots such as Italy and Tenerife, when this began, could refuse a police escort on arrival and were subsequently allowed into town/back to work without any monitoring/testing and thus allowed to spread the virus into the community with NO sanction or monitoring. This was clearly unacceptable. Paragraph (c) of the proposition requests the Council of Minister to develop a revised policy for travel to and from Jersey including implementation and monitoring and paragraph (d) ensures that the policy is made available to the States Assembly in advance of any debate.

It is a balance between keeping our Islanders safe and ensuring that our industries, in particular tourism, will not be hit too severely by the current crisis. States Members need to be in control of this key decision and I would ask Members for their support. It is to be noted that Ministers would not be prevented from expanding the policy in specific circumstances should the need arise.

Financial and manpower implications

There are no financial and manpower implications which cannot be met from existing department budgets.