Travel categories reviewed three times a week

Public Health has said that it will be assessing prevalence rates three times a week when category two classifications are introduced from next week, with any changes made quickly.

‘Prevalence rates are now assessed three times a week on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday,’ a Public Health spokesman said. ‘Any changes are made at midnight that night and, where necessary, a new map is published.’

A new map will be published on Wednesday for people arriving from Friday.

Category two classification is for people from low risk areas.

At the moment this is Jersey, the Isle of Man, south-west England, all of Wales and the Scottish islands.

Arrivals from category two regions will need to do tests on day one and day seven, but if the first test comes back negative, they will not need to self-isolate.

Currently most arrivals must isolate for at least seven days.

‘Anyone considering travel should note that while many UK regions have seen the prevalence of Covid-19 falling, the rate at which case numbers are coming down has slowed in recent days and it is not possible to be certain at this stage how much of the country will meet the criteria for category two,’ a spokesman said.

Watchlists are also provided online so anyone considering travel can see if the location they are coming from is likely to move into a more restricted category.

Arrivals must provide details on their 14-day travel history on the online Travel Tracker before they arrive. This can be done two days before travel.

If a journey to the Bailiwick means transiting through a port or airport in a higher category region, stricter self-isolation requirements will apply.

From 14 May, travellers’ PCR tests will cost £25 each.