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Fully-vaccinated islanders wishing to travel to Guernsey can now present the results of an “observed lateral flow test” instead of a PCR test upon arrival.
The test will need to have been taken within the 48-hour period before travel.
It comes after the Civil Contingencies Authority, the emergency decision-making authority in Guernsey, decided to introduce “greater flexibility” regarding pre-travel tests while retaining specific restrictions for fully-vaccinated travellers from Jersey.
Previously, travellers had to take PCR tests before their journey, which will still be accepted.
Observed lateral flow tests are available in Jersey via pharmacies such as LV Pharmacies and Reid’s Pharmacy, or online. An email or text certification confirming the lateral flow test was observed will be accepted.
Fully vaccinated travellers from Jersey will also be required to purchase a pack of five lateral flow tests to use on arrival, in line with all other fully vaccinated arrivals from within the Common Travel Area (UK, Republic of Ireland and Crown Dependencies).
The system is expected to be introduced later this week after being delayed when the States of Guernsey’s order of 165,000 lateral flow tests from the UK didn’t arrive on time for yesterday's expected launch.
The plans to charge travellers £25 each for testing kits of five has already provoked controversy, with officials saying that only tests bought upon arrival in Guernsey can be used "for consistency".
Meanwhile, Guernsey travellers coming to Jersey for less than 48 hours will still need to take a PCR test upon their return.
The CCA said they had decided to maintain the requirement for pre-travel testing for people who have spent time in Jersey within 14 days of arriving in the Bailiwick due to Jersey’s current prevalence rates and contract tracing policies.
The number of recorded covid cases in Jersey dropped by more than half yesterday, with nearly 1,500 people reported as having recovered since the weekend.
Pictured: The reported recoveries slashed the total number of recorded positive cases by more than half from 2,523 on Friday to 1,193 today.
The reported recoveries - which slashed the total number of recorded positive cases by more than half from 2,523 on Friday to 1,193 today - follow changes to the way in which case numbers are reported.
The Government explained as it released the latest statistics: “A large number of recoveries are reported in today’s data. This is due to last week's change in the isolation period and the high number of positive cases identified 10-14 days earlier.
“A covid-positive person with no symptoms is deemed recovered once they have completed the required isolation period. Those with symptoms need to complete the required isolation period and be free of symptoms for 48 hours.”
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