Coronavirus: Two More Arrivals Test Positive

Two more cases of coronavirus have been caught at Jersey's borders as the number of active cases goes up to nine.

Four people have now been diagnosed with Covid-19 after arriving from off-island since the borders reopened on Friday 3 July.

Four of the other cases were detected following workforce screening, with the other testing positive for the virus after admission to the hospital.

None of the people affected have had any symptoms and they are recovering in isolation.

Current rules state that people coming into Jersey don't have to self-isolate unless they arrive from a country on the amber or red list. That list was compiled based on the risk of coronavirus transmission and those rules can be seen in more detail here.

A government minister who disagreed with the system for reopening the borders has lodged a proposition, asking that all arrivals self-isolate until receiving a negative PCR result.

Deputy John Young says the issue of not isolating is causing deep division in our community and affecting many people who've only just found the confidence to go out again. 

He also wants mandatory testing at the borders and for arrivals to then travel directly to their accommodation.

The Chief Minister has lodged an amendment to Deputy Young's plans. Senator John Le Fondre says the Deputy's proposition was lodged 'with the well-being of the community in mind and I have endeavoured to respond to the proposition in that spirit.'

The suggested changes include only making people isolate when arriving from amber or red category countries, that only people who opt into the border testing programme get tested (those who don't have to isolate for 14 days) and that people arriving in Jersey shouldn't visit any hospital, care home, nursing home, care setting, prison or anyone at high-risk of Covid-19 until they receive a negative result.

"If adopted as amended, this proposition will provide further reassurance to our community regarding the safe operation of the safer travel period and will ensure we can continue to proceed in a balanced and proportionate manner in accordance with the advice of our medical experts." - Senator John Le Fondre, Chief Minister.