‘No softer self-isolation rules for returning students’

Options such as dedicated flights for them are being explored to cut the risk posed as Covid-19 rates rise in the UK.

He confirmed the island would not weaken its stance on the role of the border for individual groups or for certain jurisdictions, such as Jersey.

‘There have, once again, been inaccurate social media comments that the regime at Christmas will be in some way softer for students,’ he said.

‘This is, yet again, absolute and utter nonsense.

‘No proposals have been presented to or discussed by the CCA so far.’

He added that any jurisdiction would follow the standardised approach of categorisation.

‘The big picture remains that this is the structure that we’re setting for travel from whichever jurisdiction,’ he said.

‘Jersey is sitting at about 68 per 100,000 [prevalence rate for 14 consecutive days], it’s sitting in category three so at the moment it would be test on arrival and test on day seven, but self-isolation in the meantime.

‘In terms of a variation from that, I’m not aware of any suggestion of discussion that we will be doing something different for Jersey.’

Health & Social Care president Heidi Soulsby added that because it was a sister isle and close to Guernsey did not necessarily mean that it should be treated any differently and would continue to follow the same approach as other jurisdictions.

Students have this week been contacted regarding a survey led by Education, Sport & Culture to ascertain if there is ‘any merit in arranging special flights or ferries’.

This would mean that any students who do come back at Christmas could travel together as a cohort potentially rather than with individuals who might be at higher risk.

States chief executive Paul Whitfield said they were seeing how this could work.

‘There have been a number of concerns raised about how this will be managed, particularly with the increasing infection rates seen on many campuses,’ he said.

‘This work is ongoing but please be assured that within Education they have set up a dedicated project team and are working on these issues in detail.’

He added that it may not be the case that the island would see hundreds of students returning at the same time, potentially for two weeks’ self-isolation, therefore it was necessary to look into how they could manage this.

For now Deputy St Pier reminded students to remember the self-isolation rules that are currently in place.

‘Please ensure that you do adhere to the legally imposed period of self-isolation and the enhanced passive follow-up requirements to which you are subject by law,’ he said.

‘We do not want any one of you to be the individual responsible for seeding this virus back into our community.

‘Law Enforcement and the courts have shown, quite rightly, that there will be no leniency for breaches of the regulations.’