Friday 09 December 2022
Throughout our response to COVID-19 in the Bailiwick we have been fortunate to receive lateral flow tests (LFTs) free of charge from the UK.
Islanders have been able to collect boxes of LFTs to test for COVID-19 in their own homes. These have been used for surveillance as well as by symptomatic islanders.
Some of these stocks of LFTs are due to expire. Islanders are asked to check their stocks of LFTs at home and are advised not to use them after their expiry date (printed on the box). The cardboard box can be recycled, and the remaining products should be disposed of in general refuse (black bags).
From Friday 23rd December 2022, the States of Guernsey will stop issuing free surveillance LFTs to businesses and the public. Anyone wishing to continue to test outside of the Public Health guidelines, will need to purchase their own LFTS. These are readily available online, local pharmacies and some supermarkets.
From January 2023, our remaining stock of LFTs will be prioritised for the following groups:
- Symptomatic people (if negative, please repeat after 24 hours)
- Visitors to Care and Residential home, hospital and Prison (vulnerable settings)
- HSC (Health & Social Care) staff (in line with the current HSC staff guidelines)
- Pre-Operative testing
- If a person is a health or social care worker and a household contact (LFT on Day 1 and thereafter only if symptomatic)
- Management of outbreaks in healthcare settings, residential homes and prison, as appropriate
For symptomatic people from January 2023, a pack of 5 individual tests will be provided per household (rather than boxes of 25). A symptom free member of your household or friend will be able to collect from Beau Sejour. If you don't have a household member or friend who can collect an LFT for you, please call the clinical helpline for further assistance on 220001 option 1.
We would urge islanders not to stockpile LFTs when they don't need to, not to test outside of the agreed testing strategy and not to request LFTs from January 2023 unless they, or a family member, are symptomatic.
The current testing guidelines for COVID-19 is to test only if symptomatic with no further testing required following a positive result.
Anyone receiving a positive LFT result is asked to:
Notify the States of Guernsey via either the clinical helpline (01481 220001 or 01481 220002) Option 1 or the online form at https://gov.gg/covidnotification - you will receive a confirmation email.
- Adults aged over 18 years who have tested positive for COVID-19 are requested to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for a full 5 days, regardless of symptom status. They may release themselves from Day 6, providing they are symptom-free. They should wear a face covering in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces until Day 10. No further testing is required unless requested by a health and social care setting. e.g. if they test positive on Monday, they can go out on Saturday if symptom free.
- Children and young people aged 18 years and under are requested to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for a full 3 days regardless of symptom status. They may release themselves from Day 4 if they are symptom-free. No further testing is required unless requested by a health and social care setting e.g. if they test positive on Monday, they can go out on Thursday if symptom free.
- Positive cases can also have unlimited outdoor exercise during the first 5 days as long as they stay away from other people.
- This is voluntary - we are asking the community to work together to keep everyone safe
- You will be asked to notify your close contacts
