The change comes a day after the UK average infection rate met the threshold for becoming an amber jurisdiction, driven by spikes in certain areas. The regional classifications also apply to France and the Republic of Ireland.
Under the rules, anyone staying overnight in red or amber regions within 14 days of travelling will need to self-isolate on arrival in Jersey. Those coming from an amber zone must quarantine for five days and have two negative test results before being allowed out. Those coming from red zones must isolate for 14 days.
Any region which registers more than 25 cases per 100,000 of population is classed as amber, with those above 120 cases per 100,000 classified as red. And, according to European Centre for Disease Control figures, the UK yesterday registered 25.02 cases per 100,000. Before the introduction of the regional risk policy, this would have meant all UK visitors having to isolate for five days.
Two of those affected, Liverpool residents Michael Mcallister (34) and partner, Edward Dickson (33), had planned to travel to Jersey for four days on Friday.
However, under the new system, they now face having to quarantine for their entire holiday or pay £132 to change their flights.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Mr Mcallister said: ‘We were due to go over for four days and we were meant to travel this coming Friday.
‘We first heard about it on Facebook, that upon arrival to Jersey anyone travelling from Liverpool to Jersey when it kicks in on Wednesday has to have a test on arrival, quarantine for five days and have a test five days later.’
Meanwhile, anyone who travels outside Jersey without staying overnight can return to the Island as a ‘green’ traveller – regardless of where they have been.
It means that Islanders can once again go on day trips to St Malo, which lies within the amber-category Ile-et-Villaine department of Brittany, without having to self-isolate on their return.
However, Condor have yet to announce whether they will resume day-trip services.
According to a list released last week, 170 regions in the UK are classed as green, 40 are amber and one – Mid and East Antrim, Northern Ireland – is classed as red.
In France, 42 regions are classed as green, 54 are amber and nine are red.
And in Ireland, 17 regions are classed as green, eight are classed as amber and one – Kildare – is red. Both France and the Republic of Ireland were previously classed as amber jurisdictions.
