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Wearing masks in crowded areas and indoor venues where distancing isn’t possible is now being strongly recommended by Guernsey’s Government after covid cases doubled in around a week.
The island currently has 233 recorded infections, and has seen a recent increase in hospital admissions. One person is also reported to have died this week.
Amid concerns that some islanders were still going into their workplaces while unwell, the island’s emergency decision-making authority yesterday strongly urged mask-wearing, and encouraged everyone aged 12 and over to collect a free pack of lateral flow tests and test themselves at least twice a week.
Yesterday, Jersey also announced an island-wide free home testing regime. From next Tuesday, islanders will be able to register for a pack of 25 to be delivered to their door.
Pictured: Guernsey's Public Health head, Dr Nicola Brink, reminded islanders that when someone with covid-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they can release droplet or aerosol particles containing the virus.
The island is similarly facing an uptick in covid cases - 334 people are recorded as having the virus, and four people are in hospital.
But Jersey’s Government has said it will not be introducing any new guidance or legal measures at this stage.
If pressures on the hospital and critical services begin to emerge as a result of covid, the Chief Minister yesterday said that initial advice would be for islanders to work from home again.
Calling for islanders to take personal responsibility for managing the spread of covid by practising good hygiene, distancing and ensuring rooms are adequately ventilated in addition to getting vaccinated and joining the home test programme, he went on to emphasise that legal restrictions “will always be the very last resort and it is something we very much wish to avoid.”
He continued: “We are all familiar with expressions like physical distancing, ventilation and enhanced personal hygiene by now. But these are more than just slogans.
“Small, simple steps to promote covid safe behaviour really can be the difference between spreading covid or containing it. Meeting friends or loved ones in smaller groups or choosing to meet outside rather than inside. Respecting others physical space or their right to wear a mask if they choose to.
“These are practical things which we can all do to mitigate the spread of covid-19 and do our part to keep Jersey safe this winter.”
Jersey's winter covid strategy marks shift to "personal responsibility"
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