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Nine people have contracted covid after gathering in each other's homes at a number of different events - including one attended by someone who allegedly broke their isolation after arriving from a 'red zone'.
Government officials said this afternoon that they had contained what they described as a "small covid outbreak", with 79 people put into isolation as a result.
The reported covid isolation breach is currently being investigated by Environmental Health.
Anyone who fails to quarantine on arrival to Jersey, only leaving isolation after returning three negative tests, faces a fine of up to £10,000.
Public health guidelines also currently state that islanders should not mix in each other's homes.
Top pandemic medic Dr Ivan Muscat issued a warning on the matter on Wednesday, telling islanders: "Household mixing is not safe at this time because there are no mitigation measures we can put in place in private homes. I would very strongly recommend sticking to meeting friends outdoors and avoid household mixing in private gardens which are usually smaller or can increase the risk of indoor mixing should the weather change."
A Government spokesperson said that all direct contacts had been identified from the positive cases so far, but that, if any of the group of 79 test positive, more will follow.
They also confirmed that news of the small outbreak will not impact the planned reopening of cafés, restaurants and hotels on Monday. However, the Health Minister warned that if adherence to public health advice drops, and case numbers, which currently stand at 43, go up, then restrictions will have to return.
“This deliberate flouting of public health advice has led to nine people testing positive so far, and 79 people having to isolate. We will not be able to continue our reconnection plans if this kind of behaviour becomes more prevalent," Deputy Richard Renouf said.
He also thanked Public Health, Contact Tracing and Enforcement officials from helping prevent the outbreak from going any further.
Contact tracers managed to find the source of the outbreak by tracking back from a single individual - marked as 'I' in the timeline below - who began showing symptoms on Sunday and called the helpline.
In common with most of those who later tested positive, they did not experience a cough, one of the most common features of covid. The most common symptoms among them were headaches and gastrointestinal issues.
In the afternoon, A visits B and C at B's house for four hours.
D and E join them. D arrived back in Jersey three days ago.
That evening, A and B attend a party hosted by F. F and three other guests later test positive for covid.
A person in F's household (G) has a friend to visit (H).
Someone in H's household (I) starts showing symptoms and calls the helpline for a test.
H attends a party hosted by J with 10 people in attendance.
H and I test positive.
Contact tracing begins with the guests from J's party.
K, who has been in contact with F, is contact traced and tests positive.
A fourth guest from the original party on 6 February tests positive.
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