This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
STATES OF JERSEY
LIFTING OF TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS: STATES ASSEMBLY APPROVAL
Lodged au Greffe on 2nd June 2020 by Deputy J.M. Maçon of St. Saviour
STATES GREFFE
2020 P.68
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
- 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;
- that no-one should be allowed to travel to Jersey without having first been tested for Covid-19 and providing proof thereof;
- 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
- 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.
DEPUTY J.M. MAÇON OF ST. SAVIOUR
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.
Page - 3
P.68/2020
Financial and manpower implications
There are no financial and manpower implications which cannot be met from existing department budgets.