Gov to stop PCR testing at end of the month

Thursday 19 January 2023

Government-provided PCR testing will end and the Airport Testing Centre will close at the end of this month, it has been confirmed.

The changes, which were announced by the Government today, also include the closure of the covid helpline and the de-activation of the covid app.

Officials said the changes reflected the move away from an emergency response, and the fall in demand for public covid services over the past nine months.

While free PCR testing will cease, the public will still be able to order LFT kits for free online.

This week, Express reported that the Government had put out a tender for up to 350,000 more LFT kits.

Pictured: Free LFT kits for home use will remain available to order online.

Islanders are still being advised to stay home if they feel unwell and to do an LFT test. If positive, they should stay at home for at least five days and until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

Director of Public Health Professor Peter Bradley said that covid "still with us and will be for the foreseeable future", despite the changes announced today.

He said: "In 2022, we announced the phased de-escalation of our covid-19 response, and I am pleased we have been able to make this decision to step down more of these measures.

"Our priority is and always will be the health and safety of islanders and the changes we're announcing today continue our move towards the sustainable management of covid-19. I want to reassure islanders that they will continue to be supported if unwell or concerned about covid-19, however how they access this support will revert to pre-pandemic routes and contacts."

Pictured: Jersey's Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley.

Professor Bradley expressed his thanks for islanders who have staffed key areas throughout the pandemic: "I would like to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly through the last three years, including the testing team, Covid Safe, the helpline staff and many others."

He added: "Although we are scaling down our response, covid-19 is still with us and will be for the foreseeable future.

"I therefore urge everyone to continue following the guidance, stay at home and do an LFT test if you feel unwell, and if you are eligible for any of your vaccines, book an appointment or drop into the Vaccine Centre."