Decision to reopen borders ‘was not economically driven’

Decision to reopen borders ‘was not economically driven’

Responding to remarks made by the Safer Travel Guidelines Review Panel, Deputy Richard Renouf added that current arrangements – whereby passengers must be tested or face 14 days of self-isolation – were not a return to ‘business as usual’ and that the current procedures would be amended appropriately, should it be necessary.

He revealed that this could include reverting to closing Jersey’s borders to non-essential travellers.

‘The advice ministers received in connection with the Safer Travel Policy was well considered and was informed by many sources, including an analysis of a trial period in the month of June allowing only limited travel through the Airport,’ Deputy Renouf said.

‘Clinical and analytical experts use the advice to help formulate changes to the policy wherever necessary, with any urgent escalation made immediately to ministers.

‘The safer-travel period is not a return to business as usual – it still requires passengers to self-isolate or participate in a rigorous border testing programme, with subsequent robust contact tracing.

‘We have also made it clear that prohibiting all but essential travel, as we did in the period before 3 July, is not a proportionate response to the current levels of the virus and was itself causing harm to Islanders’ wellbeing and mental health.’

Health Minister Richard Renouf (28912030)

Meanwhile, Deputy Renouf said the public’s adherence to the safer-travel guidance was ‘impressive’ and said the government could continue to have ‘faith in the
public and in our robust contact tracing system’.

He added: ‘To be clear, medical and scientific advice takes precedence in guiding Covid-19 policy decisions.’

The Safer Travel Guidelines Review Panel, chaired by Deputy Rob Ward, said that all arriving passengers should be legally required to self-isolate until they
had received their Covid-19 test results until ‘rapid’ testing could be undertaken.

They also criticised the composition of Jersey’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee for, they claimed, not consisting ‘purely of medical and health experts’.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that no routine checks were carried out during the 30-day period following lockdown to ensure arriving passengers were self-isolating.

Following this, on 21 July, the JEP asked the government how many checks had been carried out on ‘red’ and ‘amber’ passengers – who are subject to mandatory self-isolation. However, no response has been received.

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