The new advice is:
- All Islanders over 65 immediately practise ‘social distancing’ ‘who are not essential for the running of the Island’s services should they wish to continue carrying out their roles’.
- Islanders with flu-like symptoms, including a combination of fever, a cough, muscle aches and headaches should self-isolate until they are symptom free (for a minimum of seven days). This applies whether they have travelled outside Jersey or not and is irrespective of contact with a COVID-19 case.
- Only undertaking essential travel into and out of the Island. Essential travel includes travel for medical and compassionate purposes or travel by key workers required to keep essential services running across the Island.
Below is a statement which Senator Le Fondré gave to the media on Saturday afternoon
‘Good afternoon.
I’d like to begin by stressing that this a fast-moving situation and today I have asked our Medical Director to join us in addition to our Director General.
At the press briefing yesterday, Caroline referred to the modelling work that was being updated.
Late afternoon yesterday, the Government received this updated information from Health professionals. Based on this updated modelling, and expert advice from Dr Ivan Muscat, the Deputy Medical Officer for Health, we have issued a series of recommendations aimed at protecting Islanders and significantly containing the number of potential coronavirus cases in Jersey.
This modelling will continue to be an invaluable tool in helping us to develop our response to the virus in Jersey and will continue to be updated.
The decisions, which were made yesterday evening and released overnight have been discussed at a special meeting of the Council of Ministers this morning.
Further measures are under consideration and more information will be released in the coming days.
The actions we have recommended are both sensible and practical which members of the public can take immediately.
By doing so they will protect the most vulnerable within our community.
We are asking over 65s, who wish to continue in their roles, to limit unnecessary contact with people outside of their homes unless absolutely essential.
Islanders with a combination of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, muscle aches and headaches should self-isolate until they are symptom-free, for a minimum of seven days.
And, from today, we’re asking that Islanders only undertake essential travel into and out of the Island.
You can still travel for medical and compassionate purposes. And key workers required to keep our essential services running can also continue travelling.
I would ask that all Islanders read, in detail, the guidance that can be found on gov.je and which has been shared extensively by the media.
Any Islander with immediate concerns can call our helpline on 445566.
I want to emphasise that these are evidence-led measures, based on the Island’s demographics and health model.
Our approach to the coronavirus pandemic is health-led, and all of our decisions are made based on the most up-to-date medical advice and modelling.
As I have said, that updated modelling was received late yesterday afternoon and was discussed in detail yesterday evening by Ministers before being published.
Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers this morning, the Emergency Council will meet again on Tuesday.
The Minister for Health and Social Services will speak in more detail on the importance of the health care measures we are recommending. But I want to emphasise that social distancing is one of the most important things that over-65s can do to protect themselves from coronavirus.
It could save lives by up to 35% in this age group and reduce the demand on our health service at the crucial times.
We are going to issue some detailed guidelines over the next few days as to what this will mean in practice for affected Islanders.
I want to thank officials from across the Government of Jersey for their continued work to protect our community. And I want to thank you the members of the media who are here over the weekend to ensure this important advice is circulated to Islanders.
Le me conclude by saying, we are a resilient community, and we all need to work together, to protect the vulnerable and to navigate our way successfully through this challenge.
That, I believe, we are well placed to do.
Thank you.’
What is social distancing?
• Not kissing, shaking hands and hugging with people from outside of your household
• Not having close contact with children and grandchildren in multi-generation households by vulnerable adults
• Staying home where possible
• Keeping a distance of 1 metre /3 feet from others
• Avoiding large public events and crowds where there is close proximity
• Avoiding public transport at peak hours unless essential
• Working from home if you can do so
• Not visiting other households unless essential and ensuring that they are not displaying symptoms.
• For those who chose to continue their current roles in the community, the advice is to practice good hand and respiratory hygiene, cleaning surfaces regularly and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
