Guernsey may not follow the UK on EU travellers
A DECISION to open England’s borders to US and EU travellers who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus has surprised the Civil Contingencies Authority.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced the new rules yesterday. They means those travellers will not need to quarantine and will be in place from 4am on Monday.
Travellers will be required to take a pre-departure test, and a PCR test on or before the second day after their arrival. All arrivals from France will continue to be required to enter quarantine under the plan announced by Mr Shapps.
Asked about any potential knock-on effect locally, CCA chairman Deputy Peter Ferbrache said: ‘We’re looking at that because again it is an announcement that came as a bit of a surprise to us because our officials have been in regular discussion. They speak every week to their equivalents to the UK.
‘We were expecting this kind of announcement perhaps on 16 August with effect from the 23 August. It’s now coming I think at 4am on 2 August. So we’re looking at that and we will make a decision. It may not be the same as the UK.’
The CCA would be considering it tomorrow, with a decision and announcement made the same day or on Monday.
Deputy Ferbrache also confirmed that the current testing regime required for inbound travellers from Jersey into the Bailiwick would be reviewed by the CCA this Friday.
Currently arrivals from Jersey still require a negative PCR test within the 48-hour period before they travel.
No charge for medical travel
ANYONE going off-island for organised medical appointments will not be required to pay for lateral flow tests on return to the Bailiwick.
The news has been confirmed on the States of Guernsey website .
‘Social Security will provide you with further information once your travel has been booked.’
Fully vaccinated travellers will be charged £25 per adult for a pack of five lateral flow tests which they will receive on arrival.
This charge will be collected at the point of the traveller completing the Travel Tracker tool - and is necessary for them to be confirmed as a ‘blue channeler’.
