ISLANDERS planning Easter holiday trips are being urged to continue testing for Covid – amid a significant drop in the number of known active cases.
Deputy medical officer of health Dr Ivan Muscat said that the decrease in cases at the Hospital was indicative of an Islandwide drop – but also said that families ‘wanting to go abroad will be concerned’ about what a positive lateral-flow test might mean for their trip.
He said precautions against the virus should not be abandoned and added that, with schools set to break up for the Easter holidays tomorrow, it was important to keep testing.
‘As the Easter holidays are around the corner, many Islanders will be wanting to go abroad and will be concerned that if they receive a positive test they may not be able to enjoy a holiday. I would like to encourage Islanders to continue using lateral-flow tests to keep themselves, their loved ones, and others safe,’ he said.
While case numbers in Jersey have fallen, the UK has seen a spike, with data published at the start of this month showing that one in 12 people in Scotland had Covid, as well as one in 13 in England and one in 14 in Wales.
Dr Muscat said: ‘Despite the improving situation, Covid-19 still remains a threat which, although it does not now require an emergency response, still requires sensible precautions.
‘It is still vital that Islanders keep up to date with their vaccination schedule, regularly use lateral-flow tests and continue to follow public-health guidance.’
The number of known active cases in Jersey was consistently above 2,000 during the period from 7 to 30 March, but has since declined, with a latest figure of 1,311 published yesterday. After having peaked at 49 on 7 March, the current number in hospital is ten.
Dr Muscat said the testing regime on admission to hospital was unchanged, indicating that the perceived reduction in cases was real. The continued rollout of the vaccine programme, increasing immunity, adherence to public-health precautions and the warmer weather had all contributed to this, he added.
Dr Muscat said that anyone with symptoms of Covid, the most common of which were a blocked or runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, headache, a new cough and fever, should book a PCR test and isolate.
Isolation remains mandatory in Jersey for those who have tested positive, with ministers having delayed the relaxation of the legal requirement, originally scheduled for the end of March, until – as things stand – the end of April.
Other jurisdictions such as the UK and Guernsey have removed the requirement for people who test positive to isolate, which has led to case numbers spiking.
