Easing of border restrictions this weekend marks a ’significant step’ in the island’s Covid exit strategy.

Immediate family members and partners of island residents, as well as those who own property here, will be able to apply for an exemption to travel here on or after this Saturday (May 1).

Chief Minister Howard Quayle told Thursday’s press briefing: ’I really am pleased that we are now in a position to welcome immediate family members and partners back, whilst maintaining appropriate restrictions and safeguards - through isolation and testing - to reduce the likelihood of the virus being brought to the island and spreading in the community.’

Full details of who qualifies as an immediate family member are available on the government’s Covid website.

Public health director Dr Henrietta Ewart said we have not seen any sporadic cases for seven days now which suggests the cluster identified last week had not led to any sustained transmission in the community.

And from tomorrow anyone with a contract of employment for at least three months can apply for an exemption to travel here, a reduction from the current minimum of six months.

Mr Quayle also announced that both resident and non-resident travellers, who have been in the UK, Jersey and Guernsey for 14 days before their arrival onto the island, will now only have to isolate for seven days instead of 14.

To benefit from the reduced isolation period, a negative Covid test result will be required on arrival and on day six of isolation.

The Council of Ministers has agreed that travellers will once again be able to isolate in shared accommodation with people they didn’t travel with, so long as the traveller agrees to undergo testing.

If a traveller chooses not to undergo testing, they will be required to isolate for 21 days.

The new isolation requirements will not apply retrospectively to travellers already in isolation.

There are about additional restrictions for anyone travelling who has been outside of Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, or the UK in the 14 days prior to their arrival date here. This includes Ireland. These travellers will need to isolate for 14 days with a test on arrival and on day 13.

Mr Quayle also announced that the fee for a Covid test for travellers will reduce from £50 to £30 per test, with only two tests required - on arrival and day six or day 13 depending on the period of isolation the traveller is required to undertake.

He said this will mean the overall cost of testing for a period of self-isolation will reduce from £150 to a maximum of £60 per person.