Letter - Response From Minister re Safer Travel Guidelines Review Panel - 8 July 2020

Background Paper

The inaugural Safer Travel Review Panel is scheduled for 9th July 15.30 – 16.30. The Panel Chair ( Deputy Ward ) requested information ahead of the briefing to assist their preparation. The information contained below (including attachments) are response to initial questions from the panel.

What format/s is the Safer Travel Guidance available in? I.e. is the website the only place this information can be accessed?

The Safer Travel Guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Travel/Pages/CoronavirusTravelAdvice.aspx  

Is the guidance available in multiple languages and in other accessible formats?

A simple flow chart describing what is required of travellers is also available on the site; this flowchart is also available in other European languages.

How many testing centres are there on the Island and where are they located?

There are testing centres for travellers based at the airport arrival and the harbour arrival buildings. In additional there is a drive through testing facility which is based at St Peter adjacent to the Airport perimeter.

Should an arriving passenger not be able to be tested at the port of arrival, will transport be arranged to an alternative testing facility?

Arrangements are in place for private aviation and maritime arrivals to undergo their test at the drive through facility. Mainstream arrivals by sea and air are tested at point of arrival.

What are the hours and capacity of the helpline?

The COVID-19 Helpline is open from 08.00 – 20.00 Monday to Friday. On the weekend it is open from 10.00 – 16.00. Currently there are 10 people working on the helpline. Previously the capacity has been flexed according to demand and this will be the approach going forward.

Does the form ask for a home address for visitors to Jersey or only a Jersey address?

The pre-registration form requires each visitor to the Island to give contact details and a local address/s for the duration of their stay. A PDF copy of the form is attached.

How will travellers coming for short stays be treated given that they may not have test results before leaving Jersey?

The safer travel policy applies to all visits to Jersey regardless of duration.

If visitors are staying for less than 24 hours, it is possible that their test results will not be available before you leave the island. Nevertheless, if their test is positive, they will be notified by the Contact Tracing Team in the usual way, asked for information and given guidance.

The result of the test and details may be shared with the authorities in other relevant jurisdictions for contact tracing purposes.

How will travellers arriving by private craft (air or sea) be treated?

The safer travel policy applies to all visits to Jersey regardless of duration and mode of travel to the Island. Separate notices have been developed for private mariners and aircraft which have been distributed through Ports of Jersey. The private leisure vessel guidance has been translated into French and issued as a Notice to Mariners (No. 20 of 2020) and available online

https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.ports.je%2Fweb%2FNtM 20LeisurevesselsarrivinginandreturningtotheBailiwickofJerseyCOVID 19.pdf&data=02%7C01%7C%7C949f648bae5049365d3008d822449f2b%7C2b5615117ddf495c8 164f56ae776c54a%7C0%7C0%7C637297025425957115&sdata=YhIJnIueN19DDebsek9n5PvNj% 2BsGUGKow9TW6tN4wt8%3D&reserved=0

It has also been shared through contacts within the marine leisure industry in Brittany and Normandy as well as the Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes.

How many passengers are expected to arrive in Jersey by plane a ferry over the next 6 weeks?

The below table shows the estimated inbound passengers through the airport and the harbour for July and August. Please note there are some assumptions in these projections as described below, particularly for the airport.

1. The projections are based on the planned flights from airlines, as advised to Ports of Jersey via their independent airport coordinator', ACL. All commercial operators must advise ACL of their planned

operations. However, this is only what they are planning at any given point in time. In a volatile market, such as this, airlines are inclined to maintain provisional plans based on maximum planned capacity. They will, from time to time, make changes to these plans – though in normal times these plans are quite reliable, in the current climate, they should only be regarded as fairly accurate for near-term dates. The airlines themselves do not yet know how these flights, that are on sale, will actually perform over time. They are therefore likely to cut back their plans as they learn more about this. So the projections are far more likely reduce than increase from this point onward.

2. The other important component is the assumed load factor applied to capacity in these forecasts. The 75% load factor used below is pretty optimistic and it is likely load factors will fall somewhere between perhaps 50% and 70%, with the lower number probably applying to the nearer dates.

In terms of the harbour arrivals, the actual passenger numbers observed and pre- booked in the advanced figures until the end of July indicates around 60% of the estimated arriving passenger projections defined in the below table. So, in the same way as the airport arrivals, these projections are more likely to be lower than indicated below.

Is the policy no form, no travel?

All travellers planning to visit the Island must complete the pre-registration travel form. A legal declaration sets out the legislative framework for this and the penalties for not adhering to the legal requirements.

How will you ensure daily contact with all arriving passengers in Jersey, especially if their phone network does not allow access in Jersey?

The Contact Tracing team will lead the process of daily contact with visitors during their stay in Jersey. This contact will for the majority of travellers who sign up testing programme will be through a two-way SMS text messaging. Travellers will be asked on a daily basis to text either Well' or Covid' to indicate if they remain symptom free. Those texting the latter message are followed up by the Health and Community Service Helpline.

Any visitors not responding to the daily SMS for three days will be followed up by the Contact Tracing Team via the information the visitor declared on their pre- registration form.

How many sampling phone calls do you expect the team to make?

At present the Contact Tracing Team is not using a sampling approach to any aspect of its process's.

Phone calls to individuals are being progressed on a risk-based approach. This means that all those visitors to Jersey who decline a test preferring instead to self- isolate for 14 days are contacted in person.

Those people who are not engaging with the SMS texting will also receive a in person call for further advise and support.

How and when will updates to the guidance be reviewed and reflected?

Changes to the Safer Travel Policy will be reviewed by STAC and Ministers will receive advise accordingly.  

Published guidance on the risk assessment of countries which require a different regime of testing and quarantine will be published on Gov.Je. The CCDC will lead the daily operational monitoring of controls applied to passengers traveling to Jersey from higher risk countries.

Published guidance of high-risk countries will be monitored routinely by the daily data and information cell and updated in accordance to national and international information about COVID-19 cases.

SAFER TRAVEL POLICY STATEMENT JUNE 2020

Introduction

The Government of Jersey is pursuing a suppress, contain and shield strategy[1] to ensure the continued control and suppression of the virus in a safe and sustainable way that protects Islanders by causing the least overall harm.

The primary goal of the public health strategy was to delay and flatten the epidemic curve. This led us into a period of lockdown. The lockdown measures were necessary to avoid a sharp peak of COVID-19 cases, and thanks to the support of Islanders these measures have been very successful.

These measures although necessary have however had a negative impact on livelihoods, affected Islanders' mental and physical wellbeing, and limited their civil liberties. The Government has been clear these restrictions must not extend any longer than absolutely necessary and should be lifted as soon as safely possible.

The second goal of the public health strategy is, therefore, to exit the pandemic as quickly as we can safely do.

On 12 June, Jersey moved to Level 2 in the Safe Exit Framework[2], and while many areas of island life have returned to some degree of normality, off Island travel remains restricted to necessary journeys provided by the Blue Islands lifeline service contracted by the Government[3].

We cannot maintain a complete travel lockdown for an indeterminate period until a vaccine is found. The significant impacts of such restrictions on our lives and livelihoods would be felt for a long time.

It is important now, when infection rates within Jersey are consistently low and falling in our neighbouring countries, that Islanders are given certainty that they can visit friends and relatives and travel – whether to take a well-earned break or to take care of their interests away from the Island.

The Government has established additional controls, including a proportionate border testing programme for all arrivals, that enable this travel to happen safely and in line with expert medical advice.  

Where we are now

The first coronavirus related travel guidance was issued in Jersey on 30 January. A series of further measures were put in place throughout February and March. By the end of March 2020 all significant sea and air passenger travel operators to Jersey had suspended services.

In early April the Government introduced an essential travel scheme. Applications made to Jersey Customs and Immigration Service (JCIS) are assessed against published criteria. Successful applications can secure passage on a lifeline flight provided by Blue Islands, under an exclusive contract negotiated by Government. The first of these lifeline' flights departed on 20 April 2020. JCIS approval is also required to enter the Island by private air or marine routes.

Currently, seven flights operate each week including medical flights, with three departing to Southampton and two to Gatwick. Over half of all passenger journeys are made on compassionate grounds.

Under the Covid-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) (Jersey) Regulations 2020 any person arriving in Jersey, from late March, is required to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of arrival unless exempted from doing so. Exemptions from self-isolation apply only to the period during which the exempted person is undertaking specifically identified essential work.

In late May, with reference to advice from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC), Ministers agreed to establish a border testing trial.

The border testing trial is voluntary and passengers who choose not to participate must self- isolate for 14 days from the day of arrival, in line with the published guidance[4]. Checks are made to ensure people are well and that they understand what they have to do.

By the 24 June, 93% of all arriving passengers had entered the border testing trial. 868 people had received a PCR test on arrival and more than half had completed the full course of three PCR tests.

No cases of coronavirus have been identified in travellers arriving in Jersey during the border testing trial, and the exercise has provided essential learning about how border testing can work in practice and about the likely low levels of infections that are anticipated in arriving passengers as safer travel resumes.

A Safer Travel Period

A Safer Travel period is implemented from 3 July 2020. A number of controls will be applied consistently throughout this period to ensure that commercial travel can resume in a safe and managed way.

The requirement to self-isolate on arrival will be retained during the Safer Travel period but will be waived for anyone that agrees to the terms of an enhanced and expanded border testing programme. The specific requirements of this programme will change over time in response to the COVID-19 risk profile and other considerations.

The Safer Travel approach is set out below. It consists of four measures, which rest on three strong foundations.

In developing this approach time has been taken both to learn from local experience, through the border testing trial, and from the approaches taken to managing safe cross- border travel in other jurisdictions.

Measure 1 - Detailed Guidance

Detailed guidance will be published that sets out the arrangements for the border testing programme and stresses the importance of limiting social contact in the period before test results are received, and of the prevailing public health guidance (on hygiene and physical distancing).

All people travelling through Jersey's ports will receive public health guidance and information, both on arrival and pre-departure.

Measure 2 – Coordination with Travel Providers

There will be monthly forward coordination of all travel providers operating to and from Jersey with both Ports of Jersey and Public Health officials. Information about up to date public health intelligence will be shared and planned future travel will be kept under continual review in order to inform public health projections and the operations of the border testing programme.

All commercial travel providers are required to share details of planned services with both Ports of Jersey and Government of Jersey at least 14 days in advance, unless an exemption is granted.

Government will actively monitor and raise directly any concerns about future planned travel arrangements.

Measure 3 – Active Border Management

The default requirement to self-isolate on arrival will remain in place with regular monitoring, spot checks and enforcement as necessary.

Self-isolation will be waived for all passengers that opt-in to the border testing programme, the provisions of which may change over time. In addition to other requirements set out in the detailed guidance, the border testing programme will require all people arriving in Jersey to:

• Provide acceptable evidence of a negative PCR test for which a tested sample was taken no more than 72 hours before departure[5]
• Or undergo a PCR test on arrival in Jersey, or within their first 24 hours on island in certain defined circumstances
• Be in receipt of an exemption to the above criteria

People displaying symptoms of coronavirus must not travel, and anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate in line with published guidance.

Measure 4 – Close and continued contact tracing

All people arriving in Jersey will be required to provide necessary contact information ahead of travel using a secure online service. Passengers may be required to provide additional information during their stay including about whether or not they are displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

Where any positive case of coronavirus is identified, a forensic contact tracing process will be instigated and all direct contacts that are identified will be required to be tested.

An industry-led approach to sharing practical public health advice will be established. It will support hotels and other travel accommodation providers to adopt best practice arrangements and help keep people safe during their stay.

Strong Foundation 1 – Data and reporting

There is close monitoring of public health intelligence and data, including daily case review by a team of clinicians and analysts.

Data relating to the border testing programme, including the number of people arriving, the number that are tested and test results, will be published on a regular basis to promote transparency.

Strong Foundation 2 – Island wide testing

The island-wide testing programme continues to deliver at scale. A planned screening programme of essential workers and care home residents is in place, with hundreds of tests undertaken each day. This scope of this screening programme is continually reviewed in order to proactively respond to any new information about how COVID-19 might be transmitting in Jersey.

Everyone that is admitted to the hospital, or into a care home, is tested in advance.

Anyone with flu-like symptoms should stay or go home immediately and call the Helpline on +44 (0)1534 445566 to request a test.

Strong Foundation 3 – Safe healthcare

Since March, we have developed greater capability in our health and community services to cope with the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a vital increase in capacity, with the building of the Nightingale facility, as well as improved infection control practices and supply of ventilators and personal protective equipment.

We have also been able to improve coordination through the landmark agreement to work with island GPs.

These improvements ensure the appropriate capacity is available for the duration of the pandemic.

During the Safer Travel period ministers will continue to explore opportunities for reciprocal Air Bridge arrangements to be put in place to allow Islanders to visit certain destinations more freely. These arrangements will be informed by public health criteria, such as the level of infections and the presence of robust local containment measures in the partnering jurisdiction.

Work is also continuing to establish whether it is scientifically and operationally viable for a system of antibody diagnosis and certification to further reduce barriers to travel in the future.

A responsive approach

Jersey's Safe Exit Framework recognises that our response to the coronavirus pandemic must continue to change in response to new situations and new understanding. A key principle of the framework is that these changes must be easy to understand and relatively easy to implement, with guidelines issued where appropriate.

The Safer Travel approach will need to respond to a range of changes in the coming weeks and months. In particular, it will respond to any uncontrolled rise in cases of COVID-19, to how we understand best practice in tackling the virus, and to the implementation of the border testing programme.

In addition, the public health guidance for people arriving Jersey, which is published alongside this policy statement, will remain under review on an on-going basis.

Responding to any uncontrolled rise in cases

No border arrangements – even those that severely restrict travel and require universal self- isolation for the small number of arrivals – can be entirely effective in mitigating the risk of external seeding of coronavirus cases.

It is important to be clear that a return to travel – even during a safer travel period – is likely to lead to a rise in cases. It is important that this rise is controlled and does not threaten the capacity of the healthcare system to provide safe care where unfortunately it may be required. Restricting travel indefinitely will have serious adverse effects that will impact the lives and livelihoods of Jersey residents and lead to on-going mental and physical ill health over the medium and longer term.

The primary factors that influence the degree of risk posed by travel are the number of current infections in the country from which people are travelling (which may be different to the country they travel to Jersey from); and how effectively we stop any infections that do arrive in Jersey from being passed on to other people. The number of people arriving in Jersey and the effectiveness of our border testing measures also impact the number of likely potential infections but have less of a gearing' effect that could lead to larger rises in cases.

In 2019, 64% of visitors to Jersey were from the UK. The level of live infections in the UK has been falling recently, as measured by the Office for National Statistics, with current estimates showing that an average of 1 in 1,700 individuals in England had COVID-19 at any given time between 31 May and 13 June 2020[6].

To mitigate the risk that these cases spread, a robust system of testing, contact tracing and monitoring and enforcement of self-isolation is now in place. This is in addition to improved infection control practice across the health and care system, with robust stocks of PPE, and expanded healthcare capacity. Jersey is well prepared to find and contain any future spread of infection.

Physical distancing, good public health hygiene measures and on-going controls on hospitality and business activities – which form the new normal' under Level 1 of the Safe Exit Framework – also provide enhanced protection against the risk of on-island transmission.

In addition to these robust arrangements that mitigate the risks associated with greater travel, arrangements are also in place to act swiftly should any uncontrolled rise in cases be identified. A daily clinical and analytical cell actively monitors all confirmed cases, associated contact tracing and emerging intelligence on a daily basis, escalating any concerns to the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell and to Ministers where necessary. A detailed Health and Community Services plan is also in place, setting out the operational response that will follow any rapid rise in cases.

Additional public health plans, under the Safe Exit framework, also provide the necessary measures to mitigate an uncontrolled rise in cases, including the potential for: changes to the Safer Travel guidance; the reintroduction of stronger guidance for Islanders; re-focusing of testing, tracing and isolation programmes (such as changes to the border testing regime, planned screening programme or to self-isolation guidance; and increased monitoring and enforcement); enhanced infection control targeted at key institutions, sectors and environments; whole-population measures as a last resort, including the re-introduction of increased physical distancing, restrictions on trade or restriction on travel and movement.

Neither stasis nor the reintroduction of travel to and from Jersey is entirely risk free. The Safer Travel arrangements establish a proportionate approach to mitigating these risks and are backed by a clear understanding of steps that must and will be taken if action is required.

Understanding best practice

Much continues to be learned about both the scientific basis and microbiology of COVID-19, and about the most effective healthcare and wider public policy responses to it. Indeed, Jersey has benefitted throughout the pandemic as much from learning drawn from other jurisdictions as from improvements in our understanding of how the virus has developed in the Island.

As we progress through the Safer Travel period we will continue to learn more from these local and international sources. In particular we will learn what type and scale of effect the increase in travel might have on infection in Jersey. The Safer Travel guidance will change as a result, as will the requirements of the border testing programme, and other testing, tracing and isolation programmes.

The border testing programme

The border testing programme builds on existing testing, tracing and isolation management capabilities. The infrastructure for the programme is being enhanced, with additional investment in new IT systems – to provide a joined-up arrivals experience – and in new testing centres and an expanded workforce.

Next day turnaround of off-island testing is now in place, and work is also underway to identify the best on-island technologies to provide additional scale and faster results. Improvements are expected to be made as a result to the speed and resilience of the programme.

STAC Executive Memo of Advice

Date: 23/06/2020

Chair: Patrick Armstrong

Memo issued by: Patrick Armstrong, Medical Director

Topic of Advice: Border opening

Advice provided to: Competent Authority Ministers  Recommendation: Move to changes within the Safe Travel Proposal

Discussion

STAC were asked to offer their advice to Ministers in relation to:

1. How well the safer travel proposal addresses the balance of harms, in line with the COVID-19 Strategy
2. The proposal to begin the Safer Travel period at the level recommended for when on-island transmission is controlled (single PCR at day 0; see slide 8)
3. Any other relevant factors they feel ministers should consider

In addition and drawing on the interim review of the border testing trial, STAC were asked to discuss and offer advice on:

4. the safer travel proposal to move immediately to replace the current border testing regime with the regime proposed for when enhanced border management is required (specifically, PCR at days 0 and 5; with quarantine until results are available).

Advice

STAC are in support of the Safer Travel Proposal to facilitate increased travel to and from the island for tourism and business movement. The proposal addresses the balance of harms in relation to the short and long term effects on the economy and health and wellbeing.

The tests at the airport to date, have not identified any Covid-19 positive travellers arriving onto the island. The cost to business and tourism in lost working days by applying the same regime to all is not proportionate to the risk of introducing a Covid- 19 positive traveller onto the island. The current estimated prevalence of people carrying the virus in the UK has fallen from 1 in 500 to 1 in 1500-2000 in recent weeks and is expected to fall further. Therefore the consensus is that the requirement for testing on arrival along with a period of quarantine is not supportive in facilitating an increased capacity of travellers and should not be the continued regime.

The advice is to move to the proposed longer term testing strategy whilst traveller numbers are still low. This regime being a PCR test on arrival or with a certified negative test result within 72 hours of arrival, with no quarantine period. This relies on a robust contact tracing system should a result be returned as positive. Consideration should be given to allow exemption from testing for those who have are IgG positive on serology testing for a time limited period.

Moving forward it is likely that numbers of travellers will outstrip the islands capacity to test all arrivals and testing strategy is likely to move to one of testing travellers from higher risk countries or higher risk areas within countries particularly within the context of the UK.

Should an increase in cases occur, the tolerance will be based on capacity of the healthcare  system  and  its  demand to meet  other  island health needs  including exceptions such as winter pressure. The actions to be taken to react to any case surge will need to be agreed and this could take the form of reducing traveller numbers and/or re-introducing protective measures on island.

STAC have taken into consideration the scientific evidence along with local and National metrics. STAC have, in particular, taken note of the very significant potential impact on the economy of not opening borders for Jersey as described to them and the relationship between flight availability that has developed because of both the finance and tourism sector. In other words, in order to secure increased flight availability for the finance sector the tourism sector would also have to open up.

STAC have considered the relationship between any jurisdiction's economic success and the health system it can support. Any long-term damage to the economy will inevitably have consequences on the level of publicly funded health provision and as a result an impact on the health and well-being, both mental and physical, of islanders for many years to come. These considerations applied to the Jersey context would support an increase in travel at this time.

STAC are clear that they would expect to see some cases being introduced onto the island because of increased numbers and this message to the public needs to be carefully managed. Very robust contact tracing along with continued enhanced infection control measures, particularly within the high risk areas of the hospital and care homes, will be key to the success of this strategy.

Suggestions for success

-Continue to support development of contact tracing -Continue to explore availability of departure testing

-Continue to support development of PCR testing at the airport

-Develop strategy to support increased testing and/or quarantine should cases surge

-Introduce targeted testing when there is confidence that travel is not causing a significant rise in confirmed case in Jersey

Conclusion & summary recommendation

The advice is to support increased safe travel with the use of arrival PCR testing and without any initial quarantine period. There is acknowledgment of the harm that is being caused by continued limitation to traveller numbers both for business and leisure sectors and as a consequence the negative impact on islanders' health and well-being. Given the current estimated prevalence of the virus in travellers coming from the UK and the current levels of virus on the island the current practice of all travellers being isolated, even for the short period waiting for test results, is not proportionate. The island's capacity to manage positive cases along with increased testing capacity and increased ability to contact trace have very significantly increased since the beginning of the pandemic. If cases surge then more restrictive measures may have to be reintroduced however with early intelligence and successful containment these would hopefully be less restrictive than full lockdown. Clear communications to ensure public confidence is maintained will be important.

Notice to Mariners 20 of 2020

Jersey Harbours

This notice applies from 0001 hrs BST Friday 3rd July 2020 NtM's No.'s 12, 13 and 14 of 2020 have been cancelled

Leisure vessels arriving in/returning to the Bailiwick of Jersey – COVID 19

Mariners are advised of the following requirements relating to all leisure vessels and passengers wishing to land persons ashore in the Bailiwick of Jersey including all harbours and outlying reefs . This includes Jersey residents returning on-board leisure vessels that have landed ashore in other jurisdictions outside of the Bailiwick of Jersey.

1. Visiting leisure vessels wishing to land persons ashore must pre-book a berth prior to arrival with Jersey Marinas and will be required arrive at the designated port of St Helier only. Visting vessels arriving in St Helier that have not pre-booked will not be accepted. Jersey Marinas can be contacted on +44(0) 1534 447730 / 447708 or jerseymarinas@ports.je to book a berth.
2. All arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival or:

• Prior to departure, at registration present approved documentary evidence of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of arrival in Jersey or

• Undergo a PCR test as soon as possible after arrival in Jersey

3. If you choose to be tested on arrival you should call the local helpline before departure to Jersey on +44(0) 1534 445566 to book a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test.
4. The PCR test should be arranged for as soon as possible after arrival in Jersey for all persons onboard the vessel. You will be told the location of the testing centre when you book the appointment. Please be aware that this may involve a car or taxi journey to one of the island's drive through testing centres; you will have to pay for any cost of travel to and from the testing centre.
5. Jersey residents returning from outside of the Bailiwick of Jersey can return to their registered berth or mooring.

6. All persons on board the vessel arriving in the Bailiwick of Jersey are required to self- isolate from the point of arrival until their PCR test is conducted, only leaving their vessel or residence for the purpose of being tested.
7. Once the PCR test has been conducted, the individual will be granted permission not to self-isolate and vessels will be able to proceed to other harbours and outlying reefs within the Bailiwick of Jersey and land ashore.
8. In the event that any of the PCR test results for any person on board the

visiting/returning vessel are positive, the individual will be notified by telephone call from the Contact Tracing Service to the telephone number provided. They will be given specific guidance and must self-isolate as directed. The earlier permission to not self-isolate will be revoked at this point. Members of the individual's household or those on board their vessel will also be directed to self-isolate at this point.

In addition, all mariners are requested to observe physical distancing as per the Government of Jersey guidance, link below:

https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Pages/index.aspx  

This notice will remain in force until further notice.

Captain Bill Sadler

Harbour Master, Jersey Harbours

2nd July 2020

Government of Jersey Safer Travel Pre Registration Online Form Questions Page 1. Legal Notice

Page 2. Travel details

Are you choosing Testing or Self Isolation? Select one option:

Page 3. Person details

Page 4. Declaration

Legal Notice

The Government of Jersey has introduced a COVID-19 Safe Travel Policy for passengers travelling into the Bailiwick of Jersey.

This notice applies to all passengers arriving in the Bailiwick of Jersey, including Jersey residents.

This notice explains the legal obligations of travellers under the Safe Travel Policy. It is accompanied by guidance for passengers who agree to be tested for Covid-19 under this Policy, which can be found at Annex A.

The Safe Travel Policy establishes the following set of requirements for people arriving in Jersey:

• Complete a pre-departure registration form to provide information for contact tracing purposes;

• Self-Isolate for 14 days on arrival or:

a. Prior to departure present approved documentary evidence of a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of arrival in Jersey, or

b. Undergo a PCR test on arrival in Jersey.

• Be available to the Contact Tracing Service and follow Public Health guidance for the duration of their stay in Jersey.

Prior to departure, passengers will have the opportunity to provide documentary evidence of a negative PCR test result conducted in their jurisdiction of departure; this test must have been taken within the 72 hours before arrival in Jersey.

Passengers will be required to confirm the authenticity of any documentation uploaded or referred to as part of the pre-registration process. If approved, they will not be required to self-isolate in Jersey.

The testing programme set out in the guidance in Annex A is open to all passengers to opt into at no additional cost. If you choose to take part, you must complete a legal declaration and register to participate in the programme prior to your travel to Jersey. The testing programme involves passengers undertaking a nose and throat swab test, clinically known as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, at new border testing stations at Jersey Airport and St Helier Harbour Elizabeth Terminal.

The PCR test determines whether you currently have the COVID-19 virus, and therefore whether you represent a significant risk of transmission.

Those passengers who do not provide evidence of a previous negative PCR Test or who choose not to participate in the testing programme must go directly to their permanent home, or to suitable temporary accommodation in Jersey, and remain in there until the end of the 14 day period beginning with date on which the person arrived in Jersey.

During this time, the passenger must minimise their contact with other persons in that place. This mandatory, 14-day period of self-isolation is a legal requirement under the Covid-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) (Jersey) Regulations 2020 (the "Regulations"). Authorised officers will be in contact with people who are self-isolating to offer support and guidance, and to ensure compliance with this requirement.

Any person who shares the same living accommodation as an incoming passenger may be required to self-isolate for this period. Passengers are strongly encouraged to discuss their intentions with respect to self-isolation and testing with any person whom they plan to share living accommodation within Jersey.

Depending upon test results, passengers should be aware that a positive COVID-19 test may result in a longer stay in Jersey than initially planned. At all times, you must follow the requirements as set out in the Regulations and you must follow local public heath guidelinesfor the duration of your stay in Jersey.

If a passenger arrives on a private vessel or aircraft then the person will need to self-isolate until the test is taken and may only leave their accommodation for the purposes of taking a test. Passengers must comply with all reasonable directions from officials as to the conduct of the PCR test following their arrival in Jersey.

A person who receives clinical advice that he / she must self-isolate, based on the results of any COVID-19 test conducted in Jersey, must immediately comply with mandatory self-isolation requirements under the Covid-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) (Jersey) Regulations 2020. This may also apply to any person who shares the same living accommodation as the incoming passenger.

A person who has their permission not to self-isolate withdrawn will be required to go directly to premises which they reasonably believe to be appropriate and remain in those premises in line with the clinical advice he / she has been given. A person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement to self-isolate is at risk of prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Children under the age of 11 years of age at the time of their arrival in Jersey will not be required to undergo testing and will be granted permission not to self-isolate. However, this permission may be withdrawn if a member of the child's household tests positive for Covid-19.

All passengers should follow the tested positive guidance on gov.je (which includes not going outside at all including essential shopping or exercise) and should be aware that this will also require anyone that the traveller might be staying with to isolate for 14 days.

Any passenger who has developed COVID-19 symptoms in the period between booking their journey and their departure must contact the Health Helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445520.

Any passenger displaying symptoms or who is within the self-isolation period after having tested positive for COVID-19 must not travel.

Any passenger who has tested positive for COVID-19 in a PCR test taken in Jersey and who has already completed 14 days self-isolation and is no longer symptomatic should contact the Health Helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445520 prior to travel.

Any passenger who is travelling with other passengers for whom he / she has legal responsibility, including passengers who are under 16 years old and those who are unable to give consent, will be required to complete a separate return on behalf of those other passengers for whom he / she has legal responsibility.

Declaration

1. I confirm that I have read and understand the information provided about the Government of Jersey's Safer Travel programme on the Government of Jersey website and in the Guidance to travellers on Covid- 19 testing requirements. I have had the opportunity to seek further information through the Health Helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445520
2. I understand that if:

1. I do not consent to being tested or screened on arrival in Jersey; or
2. I do not provide approved documentary evidence prior to departure of a previous negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours prior to my arrival in Jersey I will be required to immediately comply with mandatory self-isolation requirements under the Covid-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) (Jersey) Regulations 2020.

Should I wish to send a copy of the documentary evidence of a previous negative COVID-19 test for consideration, I can e-mail it to pcrtravelcerts@gov.je.

I understand that if:

3. I do not consent to, or fail to comply with any requirement to take a test required during my stay in Jersey or otherwise do not co-operate with arrangements for assessment or screening for Covid-19; or The clinical advice, based on the results of any of my Covid-19 tests, requires it then I will be required to immediately comply with mandatory self-isolation requirements under the Covid-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) (Jersey) Regulations 2020.
4. I understand that if I am staying with others during my visit, they may also be required to self-isolate as well. To the best of my knowledge any person I will share living accommodation with is aware of this and consents to my living with them.

3. I understand that, depending on the results of my COVID-19 test, the period of self-isolation required may vary. I understand that it could result in a requirement to extend my stay in Jersey until it is completed and could exceed the initial 14-day self-isolation requirement upon arriving into Jersey.
4. I understand that failure to comply with any requirement to self-isolate in accordance with the Regulations is a criminal offence and that I will be liable to prosecution and a fine
5. I understand that failure to comply with any reasonable instructions from an authorised officer of the Government of Jersey in respect of these matters, or obstructing their work, is a criminal offence and that I will be liable to prosecution and a fine of up to £10,000 and in some cases to imprisonment.
6. I understand that if I am travelling with passengers for whom I have legal responsibility, including passengers who are under 16 years old and those who are unable to give consent, I will be required to complete this declaration on behalf of those other passengers for whom I have legal responsibility.
7. I understand that my information will be shared with the relevant government authorities, as referenced below, for the purposes of travel to / from Jersey.

Personal data collected for the purposes of the COVID travel scheme,including data about the outcome of tests and need for self-isolation,will be shared by the Health Department and Environmental Health Department with the Police and other authorised officers for the purposes of reducing their risk of infection. My data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.Your data will not be used for any other purpose and will be destroyed in line with Government of Jersey retention schedules.

For further information and to read about your subject rights, go to gov.je and further details in relation to COVID-19 privacy policy can be found here

I confirm that I have read the above and understand my obligation to comply with the Government of Jersey COVID-19 Safer Travel Programme in travelling to Jersey, and that I will be liable to prosecution under the COVID-19 (Screening, Assessment and Isolation) Jersey Regulation, should I fail to comply with these requirements.

[1] https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/SafeExitFramework/Pages/ExitFramework.aspx#StrategyFramework

[2] https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/SafeExitFramework/Pages/SafeExitFrameworkForIslanders.aspx  

[3] https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Travel/Pages/CoronavirusTravelAdvice.aspx

[4] See: https://www.gov.je/Health/Coronavirus/Travel/Pages/CoronavirusTravelAdvice.aspx  

[5] Guidance is being developed on what constitutes acceptable evidence – uncertain currently if this will be available when the policy is published

[6] See: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/cor onaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/18june2020