Self-isolating islanders offered incapacity benefits

Wednesday 04 March 2020

Islanders forced to self-isolate for 14 days over coronavirus concerns will be able to claim short-term incapacity allowance - even if they don't have any symptoms - after the government set up a "temporary" scheme.

The scheme answers concerns that some workers may ignore self-isolation advice to avoid losing pay, as the pneumonia-like illness continues to spread across Europe.

Travellers returning from high-risk countries will be able to access the scheme by providing evidence of their movements, rather than medical documents, to Customer and Local Services.

This can include e-tickets or scans of other travel documentation bearing the claimant’s name and dates of travel. 

Pictured: The claims will be valid for two weeks and be paid at the normal Short-Term Incapacity Allowance rate.

Although official advice on self-isolation has not yet been broadened to include those living with islanders returning from high-risk areas, a report explained that the Social Security Minister was also investigating how to allow these parties to make a claim should the situation arise. 

Yesterday, the government announced that anyone arriving from France or Germany who develops symptoms that could be coronavirus should self-isolate and contact their dedicated coronavirus hotline.

Starting over the weekend, passengers arriving direct from Tenerife – where a hotel went into lockdown amid several confirmed cases of the illness – were told how to report any symptoms after leaving the airport. 

Similar passenger monitoring protocols are now being rolled out across the island’s ports, yacht clubs and aero club.

Pictured: Advice is being offered at the islands ports.

Health officials have also spoken to the Jersey Fishermen’s Association and local industry bodies, as well as liaising with schools about their planned trips. 

States Members received a briefing on the island’s ‘Covid-19’ preparations, with a presentation suggesting that up to 50 islanders could die in an outbreak. 

However, there are still no cases of coronavirus in Jersey. 

42 tests have been carried out, but all have returned a negative result.

Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat, said “daily meetings” were being held to consider any new information about the virus.

He advised that there is “still no need at this stage to avoid or cancel large gatherings”, adding that: “…Good hand hygiene is the best way to protect yourself and others from contracting this, and other viruses.”

Local supermarkets and pharmacies are continuing to experience low stocks of hand sanitiser and face masks due to 'panic-buying'.

Pictured: A sign at Boots in Jersey.

Boots is now refusing to sell more than two bottles of the anti-bacterial gel to any one customer at a time.

Signs displayed in front of empty shelves read: "CUSTOMER NOTICE: Hand sanitisers are currently limited to 2 per customer. Help us to support as many people as possible to keep their hands clean this winter."

Have you travelled away from Jersey recently? Click HERE to find out if you should self-isolate.