Isolation Exemption Scheme 'Successfully Balances The Risks'

The government says the fact that only one isolation-exempt worker out of 300 has tested positive for coronavirus shows they have a 'proportionate system in place, which successfully balances the risks of infection with wider economic considerations'.

80 companies have successfully applied to the scheme, which means their employees don't have to isolate when they are at work or travelling to and from it.

The Health Minister said in the States this week that he was told that one person with this exemption 'inadvertently went straight to work instead of waiting for his arrival test result'. He was then isolated and the test was returned as positive.

A government spokesperson says this incident was investigated by the Enforcement Team, who have since confirmed that this person did not breach any of the rules.

"Workers who are exempt from the Safer Travel Policy must still register before entering the Island, receive a test arrival and isolate outside of exemption times, as per their travel history. 

"The period of time workers are permitted to isolate is only when they are not travelling to and from work or at work. 

"Compliance checks are made on a regular basis and if any worker is found to be in breach of the policy they are liable to a £1,000 fine. 

"Employers are also required to clearly outline infection control measures in the workplace, ensure the employees have suitable accommodation to isolate when not at work."

The government has also told Channel 103 that no other isolation-exempt workers have come into contact with this person and so are not isolating.

Any worker granted this exemption who does come into contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus has to go into isolation until their Day 8 test.

There is more information on the isolation-exempt scheme here.