£5M Spent On Summer Covid-19 Testing Programme

The Covid-19 testing programme in Jersey has cost approximately £5 million through July and August, the Chief Minister has revealed.

It went towards on-island and border testing along with paying staff and transporting the swabs to the UK to be processed.

Currently, tests are having to be sent off-island and returned because the Jersey testing laboratory is not up and running yet.

Border testing started when the airport and harbour reopened to passengers on 3 July, with all arrivals given the choice of a free swab or 14-days quarantine.

Thus far, 36 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 after arriving at the airport, with a further 10 diagnosed after going through the border testing programme.

The tests have been and are still free, but the Chief Minister did tell Channel 103 last month that border testing charges could be introduced at a later date if that is what happens elsewhere.

It's after reports of Heathrow introducing testing at prices from around £30.

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