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Support for businesses affected by covid measures due to be introduced in the New Year is on its way, the Chief Minister has said.
In response to concerns that the island could face a large wave of Omicron in the New Year, Senator John Le Fondré yesterday announced that mandatory mask-wearing in public places like shops and venues, and strong work from home guidance would return on 4 January.
He also urged the hospitality sector “to continue with strict monitoring of their customers, collecting their contact details and enabling easy contact-tracing for the authorities.”
He continued: “We don’t want to stop people from enjoying themselves, but this is a sensible precaution that will help us to control any spread of Omicron when it does reach our shores. So, we must ask the sector to apply a renewed effort, particularly over the festive period, as it is better to act now to reduce the impact later.”
Though he described the measures as “temporary,” he acknowledged that some businesses would be hit hard, and pledged that support was on its way.
“Additional business support measures for the industries most severely affected by these measures are being developed, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, will make an announcement on these as soon as possible.”
Previously, businesses have been able to secure help in the form of the Co-funded Payroll Scheme and Fixed Costs Support Scheme, among others. However, it’s unclear exactly what is being considered at this time. One of the hardest hit sectors in previous waves of covid was hospitality, which received the most help under the payroll scheme of any other sector.
Jersey Hospitality Association CEO Claire Boscq commented: “We have been expecting a return of some of the measures for some time and we have been supporting the request to wear masks in our venues since number began to rise last month. Our members have already been facing cancellations, especially from larger bookings for Christmas parties, so we are already feeling the downturn in business.
"But we support measure which will ensure people stay safe and bring the possibility of a return to normal a little closer. Our venues have been asking customers for their contact details for more than a year and I would urge everyone who is visiting one of our venues to follow the contact tracing guidelines and the government guidelines with continuing to use Lateral Flow tests, wear masks and wash hand regularly, this will go a long way to help our businesses stay open.”
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