Day-Of-Arrival COVID-19 Swab Now Essential

A negative COVID-19 test on arrival AND on day 13 will be needed for a day 14 release from self-isolation.

People arriving into the Bailiwick will have to take a Covid-19 on the day of their arrival, along with a negative day 13 test carried out at the drive through testing centre, to secure early release from the mandatory 21 days of self-isolation on, or around, day 14.

The Civil Contingencies Authority has made the decision after considering the increasing prevalence rates of COVID-19 in our near neighbours, the transmission rates of the new variants of the virus, and the measures introduced regarding essential travel into the Bailiwick.

Tougher restrictions to stop all non-essential travel were announced last Friday (8 January) 

Children under 12, will continue to only need a negative test on day 13.

If travellers are self-isolating in a bubble with family or friends, all non-travellers will also need a negative day 13 test in order to qualify for early release from self-isolation.

There is no change for travellers who are coming to the Bailiwick as critical workers, who will still need to comply with their specific self-isolation and testing requirements.

Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health said: ‘Asking people to take a test on arrival and on day 13 of their self-isolation enables us to pick up all travellers who are COVID-19 positive on arrival, and who are asymptomatic, as well as late presenting infections at day 13.

'The day 1 test is also beneficial for track and trace purposes should this be needed. Asking people to have both tests in order to leave self-isolation on day 14 rather than day 21 protects the Bailiwick as we continue to fight this pandemic.’

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, Chair of the CCA said: ‘As I said at the media briefing on Friday 8 January, we have put in place measures to ban all non-essential travel into the Bailiwick. Those who must travel for critical or essential reasons need to work with us to protect the Bailiwick from COVID-19.

'Asking travellers to have a negative day 1 AND day 13 test result is a belt and braces approach to pick up early and late presenting infections.’