June 5, 2020
The Government of Jersey London Office has formed part of the team established within the Ministry of External Relations tasked with responding to requests relating to repatriation, necessary travel criteria, and requirements for self-isolation upon arrival into Jersey. In addition to continuing to work closely with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as partner governments overseas, to assist Jersey residents who continue to be faced with travel restrictions abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic, officials are providing support and advice where required to Jersey residents who remain abroad . Since the start of the pandemic, this team has so far assisted over 500 individuals travelling to or from Jersey under the necessary travel criteria. The office has also been heavily involved in efforts to secure lifeline flights for non-Jersey residents seeking to return home from the Island.
Officials are also continuing to assist with the coordination of necessary travel between Jersey and the UK through the Blue Islands chartered air service operating between Southampton and Jersey, as well as a weekly rotation to London Gatwick. In addition to essential workers and medical patients, other individuals travelling on necessary grounds, including individuals needing to reach a permanent home in Jersey, the UK or abroad, individuals travelling for educational purposes, and those travelling on compassionate grounds are now eligible to travel on these services.
On the 1 June 2020 the Government of Jersey, with the support of London Office officials, introduced a trial Covid-19 Border Testing Programme for inbound passengers at Jersey airport. Passengers now have the option of being tested for COVID-19 without additional charge when they arrive at Jersey airport. Passengers who undertake the trial will need to self-isolate until receiving the first test result (within 48 hours). Passengers who choose not to participate in the trial will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, as per the current guidance.
The trial is due to run until the end of June, and will therefore remain in place, along with the necessary travel criteria, as Jersey domestically moves into Level 2 of its Covid-19 Safe Exit Framework.
For further information on travel to Jersey, as well as the trial Covid-19 border testing programme, please visit the Coronavirus Travel Advice page on the Government of Jersey website.
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