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Covid: New rules in Jersey over Omicron variant

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Action was required to make sure families can mix at Christmas, scrutiny leaders said

A range of new measures in response to the Covid-19 variant Omicron has been announced in Jersey.

They were intended to "reduce or delay on-island seeding" of the new variant, the States of Jersey said.

Passengers who had travelled outside the Common Travel Area (CTA) must isolate until they had a negative PCR test result, officials said.

Anyone who had been to a red list country would need two negative PCR results, the government said.

Ministers have also agreed a new contact tracing policy for any cases.

PCRs despite vaccination

The new measures, intended to "strengthen Jersey's response and to reduce or delay on-island seeding", have been recommended by public health bosses in consultation with the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell (STAC) as part of Jersey's Covid-19 winter strategy.

From Friday 3 December, passengers aged 11 and over who had been outside the CTA in the 10 days before arriving in Jersey would be required to isolate until they received a negative PCR test result, regardless of vaccination status, the government said.

Passengers arriving in Jersey would still be able to submit evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before travelling, it added.

The CTA includes the UK, Republic of Ireland, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Variants 'surveillance'

Anyone who had been in any of the 10 red list countries after Friday 12 November should book a PCR test immediately, the government said.

A second PCR test five days later would be required, regardless of a first negative PCR result, it added.

Direct contacts of a positive Omicron case must isolate for up to 10 days and undergo enhanced testing.

The rollout of vaccines was also to be accelerated, while masks remained mandatory for all islanders over the age of 12 - unless exempt - when using public transport, or inside the bus station, airport and harbour, the government said.

Chief Minister John Le Fondré said there were no confirmed cases of Omicron in Jersey, and PCR testing would continue "to provide a good level of surveillance for variants".

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