Mandatory self-isolation for Covid-19 to be lifted

On that day all border restrictions will also fall away, so travellers into Guernsey will no longer be required to buy lateral flow tests or do a PCR test.

Announcing the upcoming changes, Civil Contingencies Authority chairman Peter Ferbrache called it a ‘defining moment’ and ‘a hallelujah day’.

‘Today is extremely significant, it’s one I’ve been looking forward to,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t sure exactly when it was going to arrive when I became chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority in mid-October 2020, some 15 or 16 months ago.

‘I sincerely, and I emphasise that word, hope that we can look forwards and there will never be a need again for the CCA to use its emergency powers re Covid.

‘To give us the best chance possible, it’s important that everybody heeds the advice from Public Health.

‘Everybody, whether it’s families, friends, colleagues, employers, has a role to play in the new normal.’

The stark departure from the war-footing of the past will make way for a ‘learn to live with it’ approach.

Instead of legal self-isolation, people who test positive for Covid-19 will be asked to stay at home and notify contacts themselves.

The new plan puts the emphasis on personal responsibility, common sense and community spirit.

Dr Nicola Brink, the director of Public Health, said the shift was possible because of the ‘phenomenal’ take-up of the vaccination programme.

In the island’s over-50 population, 99% have had at least two doses of vaccine.

In the over-19 population, that figure stands at 95%.

Dr Brink said yesterday’s announcement represented a ‘milestone’ that empowered islanders.

‘Essentially what we’re doing is giving the community back control over what we do on Covid-19, and I believe that the Bailiwick can do this and we do this in partnership together.

‘We trust islanders, we think they will all do the right thing, and we think they are ready to take back control and move forward to managing the pandemic in a different way.’

Packs of LFTs will still be available for free, and if people test positive they are requested to report.

There will be no routine Public Health-led contact tracing, and the daily publishing of Covid case numbers will switch to weekly. Yesterday this stood at 934.

Schools will no longer carry out contact tracing, and they will no longer be notifying parents

and carers if their child is a contact.

Pupils are being asked to keep using LFTs for now, and take three LFTs during the first three days after half-term.