14 days self-isolation for all travellers

Friday 20 March 2020

Everyone that arrives in Jersey from abroad must now self-isolate for 14 days.

The new guidance, which also applies to travellers coming from both the UK and Guernsey, came into force shortly after midnight today (Friday 20 March).

It applies whether travellers exhibit flu-like symptoms or not.

Anyone who does display symptoms is urged to call the dedicated covid-19 helpline, which is open daily from 08:00 to 20:00.

The government also advised: 

• solo travellers, who live alone, should immediately go into self-isolation
• a family or group travelling together should all immediately go into self-isolation
• where a solo traveller is returning to a shared or family home, they should separate themselves from others in the home in accordance with self-isolation advice

New arrivals are urged to avoid public transport to reach their home, but are permitted to do so for journeys of up to one-hour if they are not showing symptoms and follow social distancing advice.

They can also use their own transport or travel with another individual while following social distancing advice, but the vehicle should not stop anywhere during the journey and should be cleaned directly after use.

Anyone showing symptoms will have transport provided for them.

The stricter advice comes shortly the government implemented enhanced procedures for new arrivals by both aircraft and ferry.

A spokesperson explained: "The procedures include a questionnaire for all arriving passengers to determine which countries they have visited in the past 14 days, and whether they have a fever and other flu-like symptoms. Their responses determine the advice and support that they are given... All passengers who are displaying symptoms will be provided with additional information and support, including onward travel arrangements to their home, if required."

Officials said today's new advice does not apply to essential workers coming into Jersey, unless they have been in contact with anyone abroad with confirmed covid-19. If so, they must self-isolate for 14 days.

This is because the workers are deemed essential to the running of the island, and are not believed to effect the island's overall strategy for containing the illness.

They added that this approach is based on "the latest data" and that medical advice is "constantly under review".