The plans were announced yesterday by ministers, who cited the low levels of Covid-19, growing evidence of health and economic harm resulting from the travel ban and a robust testing regime providing results for passengers within 12 hours of arriving.
If the States give approval during a debate next week, from Friday, air and ferry routes will open, albeit slowly at first.
It would be a move which would delight both the hospitality industry and those wanting a holiday or to visit friends and relatives away from the Island.
The news came a day after 69% of people who responded to a JEP online poll said they were in favour of borders reopening in July as long as adequate testing was in place.
Plans by the Council of Ministers will form the basis of a proposition that is expected to be debated by the States Assembly on Tuesday.
As a result of the ministerial proposition, Deputy Jeremy Maçon confirmed yesterday that he would withdraw his proposition seeking Assembly approval for the lifting of travel restrictions.
External Relations Minister Ian Gorst said it would not be possible to maintain a complete travel lockdown indefinitely until a vaccine was found.
‘Such a position would not be consistent with causing the least overall harm to our community – both medical, social and economic,’ he said, appealing for those with differing views to show mutual respect.
‘Some are desperate to get back to normal, while others are really fearful,’ he said. ‘Don’t criticise, be mindful of someone else with a different experience, we should come together as an Island and support each other.’
Matt Thomas, chief executive of Ports of Jersey, said, if the plans are backed, he expected Condor Ferries would restart services soon after 3 July, with Manches-Iles Express services to France also set to resume.
Mr Thomas said daily flights to London with easyJet and British Airways – the latter using Heathrow as a temporary destination – would start next week.
And easyJet has also confirmed that it would offer flights to Manchester and Luton from 16 and 18 July respectively.
‘The stars have lined up with medical advice so that we can accommodate airlines,’ said Mr Thomas.
‘As much as airlines like British Airways and easyJet like travelling to Jersey, if we had a 14-day isolation period but the rest of Europe didn’t, then it was likely they may have made the decision to employ their aircraft capacity on different routes,’ he added.
Blue Islands plans to continue to provide flights to Southampton and Gatwick until 17 July as part of a contract with the government to maintain air links, with other routes set to reopen after that.
Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham said that a robust testing procedure would be in place for all arriving passengers at both the Harbour and Airport. Key features of this will include:
- Swab tests for everyone aged 11 or over, with the costs borne by government until at least 31 August.
- Results available within a maximum of 24 hours, but with the aim to meet a 12-hour target.
- Strongly-worded advice to everyone arriving that they should avoid unnecessary social contact ahead of receiving their test result.
- Passengers being allowed into Jersey without being tested if they can provide certificates of negative results to a test taken elsewhere in the 72 hours before departure to the Island.
- The provision and funding of accommodation for any visitors to self-isolate if they test positive on arrival.
A total of 868 passengers on essential flights during the past four weeks have been tested on arrival in Jersey, with no positive cases resulting.
The number of active cases in Jersey fell to five yesterday, with Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat, saying this figure would be down to just two cases today, unless any new positive test results are reported.
Asked about the risk of people arriving in Jersey via the UK having recently spent time in countries with high prevalence of Covid-19.
‘We may well apply a different form of precaution for individuals from higher-risk countries,’ he said.
All passengers will have to fill in a form detailing their travel history for the past two weeks.
Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Turnbull said the Island’s strategy had been to ensure the ‘least overall harm’ to Islanders’ health and wellbeing.
‘Our achievement in limiting cases of Covid-19 has come with collateral damage caused by the isolation and growing stress,’ she said. ‘I have been apart from my family, and there are many others who want to see their family in the UK, Madeira, Poland, Romania or other places.’
Jersey Hospitality Association chief executive Simon Soar said: ‘It has been a big few days and we are absolutely delighted by this announcement, so we can move forward and start to get visitors back.
‘It is going to be great to get people back into the Island. The government has been working really hard on testing to make this happen and we are delighted.
‘We hope that this will now help to salvage the season. We think there will be a strong appetite to come here – it is safe, continental and gives people a chance to go somewhere on holiday without having to go to other destinations.’
