A vaccine passport scheme for people resident in the British Isles and Ireland will be introduced in Jersey as part of significant changes to Jersey’s safer travel policy it was announced this week. The Government has also pushed back the date for lifting restrictions on travel to other jurisdictions outside of the UK and crown dependencies from 17 to 28 May. Travel restrictions will now be based on national Covid levels for Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland rather than lower tier local authority rates. It means that the whole of England, Scotland and Wales will soon be classed as Green, while Northern Island will be Amber.
At a press conference earlier this week Chief Minister John Le Fondre said he hoped the ‘Proportionate changes’ would be welcome news for Islanders. Passengers from within the travel area – which comprises the UK, Crown dependencies and Ireland, who have had both vaccinations will not be required to self-isolate on arrival to the Island as long as they come from a green or amber area. Instead they will take a test on arrival and provided the result is negative they will not have to isolate at all. However even with a double vaccination, a traveller from a ‘red’ area will still be subject to a minimum of 10 days isolation period.
Jersey’s testing system is also changing with passengers arriving from Green areas requiring tests on arrival and on day 8, if they have not had 2 Vaccinations. Those travelling from Green areas (without 2 Vaccinations) will still need to isolate until they receive their first negative result. The testing and isolation requirements for those arriving from amber and red areas who have not had 2 jabs remain unchanged. The new travel guidance, including the vaccine passports will come into force on 28 May.
Meanwhile the vaccination programme continues at pace, the latest statistics show that 62% of all adults have now received at least one vaccination and 44% have now been fully vaccinated. Last week the Joint Committee on vaccination and Immunisation advised that, as a precautionary measure, people under the age of 40 with no underlying health conditions will be offered an alternative vaccine to Oxford – Astra Zenica. Every adult over the age of 18 will have been offered both vaccinations by mid-August according to Becky Sherrington, head of vaccination programme. As at today Jersey has 2 known active cases of Coronavirus.
Weekly Update Survey
Rather than providing an economic update today we would like to conduct a client survey about our weekly client newsletter. If you could please take a few moments to complete the survey it would help us to tailor our future communication in line with your interests, whilst giving you the chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher!
