We are only as Covid safe as the last person across the border, health chiefs have pointed out.

News that a Steam Packet worker from the UK has tested positive for the virus illustrates that the island remains vulnerable despite all the best efforts to keep us safe.

So where are the risk areas and what is being done to avoid as far as possible the threat of the virus making a comeback here?

One the main risks is that returning residents flout the strict rules on self-isolation.

Some 12,428 island residents registered to travel between August last year to February 5 this year, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

Steven Stanley, director of the government’s Covid response team, said: ’Phone calls and visits to self-isolation addresses provide monitoring and any breaches would be matters for the police but ultimately it’s about behaviours.

’The only way to remove risk is to close the borders completely which clearly isn’t feasible.

’The next option would be moving to a supervised quarantined facility.

’The system we have balances the risk and is based on a large element of trust that people will follow the rules and do the right thing to protect the community.’

But what about those arriving here on exemption certificates?

Some 1,440 non-residents were granted leave to travel to the island on compassionate grounds between August and February.

Between those dates, 1,126 keyworkers were also given permission to travel as they were deemed critical to national infrastructure, the economy or the preservation of life.

A further 643 arrived here on a contractual exemption. These are people who intend to make the island their main place of residence. Mr Stanley explained there is a range of mitigations that can be applied to any given individual exemption certificate depending on the role to be undertaking.

’Each application is considered on its merits,’ he said.

’Where an exemption is approved, it specifies the conditions necessary to mitigate any risks associated with the exempt person’s entry into the island.’

Key Health workers who arrive in the island are subject to following a testing pathway.

This involves varying testing pathways based on their roles, and risk.

Depending on when they are due to start work, staff are tested on arrival and then at varying stages throughout their isolation period.

For critical national infrastructure workers, their risk assessment is reviewed by the DHSC and a testing pathway is confirmed.

’All applications and risk assessments are considered on a case by case basis and each keyworker who is approved to work on island is subjected to a standardised testing pathway, with the aim of mitigating risk,’ said Mr Stanley.