Guernsey begins work on arrivals testing facility

Friday 28 August 2020

The two largest Channel Islands will soon have testing measures in place for all new arrivals, after Guernsey began setting up a new facility at its airport this week.

Jersey has been testing all arrivals since borders reopened to commercial travel in July.

Since then, around 50,000 tests have been conducted on passengers arriving into the island by sea and by air, with 32 cases detected at the airport and seven picked up at the harbour.

Since Wednesday 26 August, we have completed 665 more tests at our borders with 1 new positive identified from inbound travellers. pic.twitter.com/bh9UYxplKl

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) August 27, 2020

Now Guernsey, which followed an elimination virus strategy, has begun constructing an on-arrival testing facility at its airport, which is expected to be ready by mid-September in anticipation of the island's move to 'Phase 5c' of lockdown.

Plans were published earlier this week, although a date is yet to be set for when it will come into place.

As part of the changes, anyone coming to Guernsey from jurisdictions listed in 'Group A' or 'Group B' will be offered a test as soon as they arrive in the island.

While 'Group A' travellers will still have to self-isolate for 14 days regardless, those travelling from 'Group B' will have the chance to leave quarantine after 24-48 hours if their results come back negative.

Pictured: Travellers will be tested on arrival in Phase 5c.

RG Falla began building the new facility at the beginning of the week and it is expected to be complete within three weeks. 

Arrivals landing at the airport will have to walk through the testing facility on their way out, and partitions will be put up to give travellers space and privacy while being swabbed.

While Guernsey's preparations seem to be well on the way for Phase 5c, Alderney is much further behind. The island hasn't yet moved to Phase 5b - the stage Guernsey is currently at - with plans to do so on 3 September.

Meanwhile, all Aurigny flights linking Alderney directly with Southampton have been pushed back even further, to 5 October.

Pictured: There are currently no testing facilities at Alderney's airport.

When asked why the changes to the schedule had been made, while Guernsey's Southampton route is still running, a spokesperson for the airline said: "Unfortunately, as there is no Border Control testing at Alderney Airport and we are not sure when this facility will be available there and if it will be, we are unable to offer direct services between Alderney and the UK, under 5c."

However, the Chairman of the Guernsey's Policy and Finance Committee said arrangements for testing facilities were underway.

"Firstly, no date has been set for Phase 5c, secondly no decisions on how those regulations will be applied to Alderney have yet been made and thirdly arrangements are being made and those facilities will be provided in Alderney as when there is a need for them."

Pictured top: An on-arrival testing facility is being built at Guernsey Airport.