Travel Tracker is a bad system that just needs scrapping

We were told before we left that when we returned someone would be there to help. That person had just finished after five hours with two 80 year old people who also did not have internet, etc.

Since then we have been in and out of the island by sea and plane with variable success at getting back into the island but the last time was just typical of a very bad system that needs scrapping.

For some reason when I put myself to the task four days before we were to return from Yorkshire, I bumped straight into the first issue, which was it telling me I must replace the passwords of both myself and my wife as they were out of date.

I managed this in about two hours and I was ready to go, except that the system that picks up the information for vaccination had been scrapped and I would have to show the papers at arrival, which was OK as we had both been triple jabbed and had the paperwork proof.

When we landed, though, at ASG (chartered plane) we were told that the paperwork would have to be completed again so that the vaccination details could be automatically attached and that we must pay for a second lot of Clinitests, priced £25 each, which I could claim back.

I hadn’t tried this as yet. Quite honestly, since getting home I had better things to do and am expecting another difficult discussion with the gnomes at Travel Tracker help (!) line.

G M OLDROYD

St Martin’s

Response from Richard Evans, Covid response programme director:

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your correspondent’s letter.

I am sorry that they experienced difficulties completing the Travel Tracker.

The Travel Tracker is much more than a system used to help manage the entry requirements into the Bailiwick and it is far from a ‘bad system’. It has served us well during the pandemic and has been updated and amended many times to cope with the ever-changing entry requirements and restrictions.

Every six months Travel Tracker requires a change to the previous password. While this may seem like a faff, it is one of the security measures of the system.

If individuals receive their vaccinations in the Bailiwick, they are automatically recorded on the vaccination administration system and a QR code made available on Travel Tracker which is available all of the time. If the booster dose is also received in the Bailiwick that too is automatically uploaded so is available on Travel Tracker. There is no requirement to complete any paperwork or to have a paper copy of the vaccination certificates.

If all required vaccinations were received in other jurisdictions paper copies are to be scanned and uploaded on Travel Tracker and again, this only needs to be done once.

There was a requirement to purchase a pack of five lateral flow tests if arriving from within the Common Travel Area until 17 January, when this fell away, but lateral flow tests are required to be purchased if a vaccinated individual is arriving from outside the Common Travel Area. At that time when each pre-travel form was completed, Travel Tracker would require the purchase of a set of lateral flow tests because it would see the journey as a new one.

If your correspondent requires a refund, please go to Travel Tracker Refund – States of Guernsey (gov.gg) and complete the form. The refund will be turned around within 14 days.

I appreciate that the Travel Tracker has not been easy to use for some people who may be less technically equipped than others and I am sorry your correspondent encountered difficulties with Travel Tracker.