The first batch of swab tests for arriving passengers was processed in the new lab on Tuesday, with Jersey’s reliance on sending samples to the UK now set to be phased out over the next four weeks.
Faster turnaround times provide a boost for the Island’s testing regime, which has already drawn praise for being the most thorough in Europe in terms of the volume of tests performed per person.
Through the combination of testing all arriving passengers – with the exception of those opting to complete a fortnight’s self-isolation – and a track-and-trace programme used whenever a positive case is picked up, the number of known active cases has remained low, and currently stands at 11.
Deputy medical officer of health Dr Ivan Muscat said: ‘The opening of the Covid-19 laboratory is a significant milestone in managing Jersey’s testing requirements. It will not only increase our overall capacity but by getting results more quickly it reduces both risk and inconvenience.’
Dr Muscat added that facility at the Aero Club also provided improved security going into the autumn and winter months, when weather-related flight disruption was more likely to occur.
A total of 170 tests were carried out in the new lab on Tuesday. Dr Muscat said volumes would be stepped up gradually ‘to ensure that we don’t trip ourselves up by going too fast’.
Ian Horswell, director of Jersey Bulls football team, said timely test results would make a significant difference to the team, which started the 2020-21 season earlier this month in spite of being unable to stage home fixtures at present.
‘It’s game-changing for us, as players who come back to Jersey on a Sunday morning know they will have a test result before they are due at work on Monday morning,’ he said. ‘It also gives us the ability to double up and play games on both Friday night and Saturday afternoon on the same trip.’
But Mr Horswell admitted the situation was a challenging one, given the rise in infection rates that has seen a number of UK regions upgraded to amber status on Jersey’s risk ratings for arriving passengers.
‘The landscape is changing and we can no longer stay at Heathrow after a game because it is an amber area, so have needed to source a new hotel for our game this Friday,’ he said.
For the time being, the Bulls are seeking to keep their season on track, although have admitted that they may play some of their designated home fixtures at grounds in the UK to avoid a Covid backlog. (Full story: Back page.) In contrast, their Sarnian counterparts, Guernsey FC, confirmed this week that they would not be able to compete in an English league during 2020-21.
Mr Horswell added: ‘There may be a time when Covid gives us a natural break in the season, but for the moment we are taking it game-by-game and are very grateful to the Combined Counties League for the flexibility they’ve shown to us.’
Around 40 regions of the UK have moved to an amber rating from today.Dr Muscat said the numbers of passengers arriving in Jersey from amber areas was approaching the number with a green travel history, with only a small number arriving from red areas.
Several of the country classifications are also set to change with effect from tomorrow:
lNorway, Slovakia and the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba will move from green to amber.
lLibya will move from amber to red.
lMalta and Qatar will move from red to amber.
lBrunei, Iceland, Malaysia, Seychelles, Singapore and Sweden will move from amber to green.
