Getting Tested

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to remain in self-isolation or passive follow up while you wait for your test result. If you are unsure what you need to do while you wait for your result, please check with the operator who calls you to book you in for your test. Information about self-isolation can be found at https://covid19.gov.gg/support/protect. 

Alternatively if you are identified as a potential contact of a case, Public Health Services will do a risk assessment to determine the level of contact. For more info please see: I am a contact of a case | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

You are likely to receive your PCR results between 24 - 48 hours after the swab has been taken.

When you provide your personal details, you will be asked if you consent to contact by text message. If you agree to this, you will receive a negative result by text.

If you do NOT consent to receiving text messages, or if your result is positive, you will receive a phone call.

Please note that multiple results cannot be sent through to a single number e.g. families or travelling groups. Each individual will instead receive a phone call. Children’s results will not be sent in text message format and a parent or other person with parental responsibility will be phoned.

Please follow the guidance here: I am a positive case | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg)

If you have no transport of your own and cannot access a lift to the testing centre at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital from a member of your household and have no symptoms of COVID-19 (a new continuous cough, a sore throat, muscle aches, headache/sinus pain, a fever, a high temperature, shortness of breath) you can use a taxi. 

When booking, you must inform the taxi company that you are booking to go for a COVID-19 test at the hospital drive-through. You must also: 

• Wear a face mask throughout the journey
• Sanitise your hands before entering the taxi
• Keep the car windows down throughout the journey
• Follow other instructions given by the taxi driver
• Sit in the back seat behind the driver

On arrival at the PEH the taxi driver should drive into car park C where they will be greeted by a porter and directed into the drive through testing centre. Both passenger and driver should remain in the vehicle until directed otherwise.

When the taxi is in the testing facility the person requiring a test will be asked to step out of the taxi and informed where to stand/sit for the test to take place. The individual being tested must keep their mask in place until instructed to remove it by a member of the testing team.

Once the swab has been taken the individual must replace their mask and sanitise their hands. They should then get back into the taxi and continue to follow the above guidance until they are back at their place of residence.

The Clinical helpline which is run by JESCC has handles calls from Islanders seeking clinical advice about COVID-19.

Call handlers on this line are there to assess whether you need a COVID-19 test based on a set of clinical questions that they will talk you through over the telephone.  Calling the helpline will essentially result in one of two outcomes:

• If you need a COVID-19 test they will refer you to the scheduling team who will arrange an appointment.
• They will determine that you don’t need a COVID-19 test and the call handler will take no further action.

What the call handlers CANNOT do is determine whether you need any additional clinical assessment or treatment. If you don’t need an ambulance and are unwell then you should contact your primary care practitioner who will be able to determine the cause of your illness and the correct treatment.

Before you call for assistance please bear in mind the following: 

• If you are very unwell phone 999
• If you are concerned you are unwell and need to speak to someone about your symptoms call your GP
• If you have symptoms that are manageable at home which you are not worried about, call the helpline to discuss if you need a COVID test

Please go to Education guidance | States of Guernsey - COVID-19 (gov.gg) for the latest education guidance.