New Covid controls in force from today

Stricter rules to combat threat from new strain of Covid-19

Those arriving on the Island today (23 Dec) will face tighter Covid controls, including testing on arrival.

It's after government introduced a raft of measures to counter the threat posed by the mutated form of the virus in the UK, which is 70 per cent more transmissible.

Returning residents must pay a combined £50 to take a test on arrival, and on the 13th day of their self-isolation, or opt to stay in for 21 days.

The option for an hour's outdoor exercise has also been removed.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle says the changes come in response to the new variant of Covid-19:

Meanwhile, non-residents will no longer be able to ask for exemption certificates to travel here, with consideration of all new applications suspended.

Those for critical infrastructure, healthcare, or those in the public interest will still be considered though.

Certificates already granted before the announcement of new measures will be honoured, whilst ones applied for before the announcement will still be processed.