CCA looking to relax border testing and other Covid rules

There are also hopes that the CCA will look at how to de-escalate other restrictions, as Covid case numbers continue to fall.

Currently arrivals from the Common Travel Area have to purchase LFTs, while vaccinated travellers coming in from outside the CTA need to have a PCR test on arrival and isolate until they get a negative result. Unvaccinated non-CTA travellers have to isolate for eight days.

The hope is that all CTA arrival testing will be scrapped, while vaccinated non-CTA travellers will have to take LFTs rather than PCRs. However the rules for unvaccinated non-CTA arrivals would not change.

This would align with the UK and would be kept under review.

The CCA has begun to consider how and when it can begin to remove other restrictions and guidance over the coming weeks, and will review this again next week.

CCA chairman Peter Ferbrache said it was encouraged to see case numbers coming down.

‘The restrictions, both domestically and at the borders, are relatively light-touch compared to the more severe steps we had to take earlier in the pandemic, and compared to many other jurisdictions, because we have sought to allow life and business to continue with as much normality as possible,’ he said.

‘But even if the current restrictions are relatively few, we must not keep them in place for any longer than is absolutely necessary. So for that reason we have begun to plan how and when we can remove them.’

He said he could not give any assurances, but was hopeful that after Tuesday’s meeting they will give positive news about relaxing border testing requirements and clarity on how quickly other measures can be relaxed.

Currently face masks must be worn in most indoor public settings. People are encouraged to do LFTs regularly and work from home where possible.