Free exemption cards have been made for Jersey airport and harbour passengers who find it hard to wear a face-covering for medical reasons.

Up until now, everyone travelling in and out of Jersey Airport has had to wear a mask to help stop the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Mask exemption cards can now be applied for at the airport. Picture Credit: Ports of Jersey

Passengers with conditions or hidden disabilities such as hearing or breathing difficulties can now get a card to carry with them so staff can identify them easily.

It's similar to the lanyards given to people with hidden disabilities to let staff know that they need a bit more time to navigate their way through the airport.

"We are conscious that for some passengers the wearing of a face mask or shield can be very challenging when travelling through our ports, especially for those with a ‘hidden’ medical condition that is not immediately identified. Therefore, to make it more comfortable and reassuring for them we have extended our ‘Hidden Disability’ scheme to include this exemption card.

"The lanyard scheme has already proved successful in the 18-months since we first launched it and we now wish to extend it by providing the face mask exemption card to other passengers who may find it beneficial." - Sarah-Louise Stubbs, Ports of Jersey Customer Relations Manager.

They can be collected from the Customer Services desk at the airport, but evidence has to be given to receive one. That could be a medical certificate or a doctor's note.