Virus cases dip slightly after tech glitch

Monday 21 December 2020

The number of active covid cases in Jersey fell slightly over the weekend, following a tech glitch on Saturday.

On Friday, the number of people recorded as currently having the virus shot up by 136, taking the total to 947.

On Saturday, the total fell to 914, with 22 new cases identified and 55 recoveries.

However, the Government noted that there had been an overnight “technical issue… which has now been resolved”, meaning that a number of tests were still awaiting results.

Statistics Update

Apologies, owing to a technical issue overnight which has now been resolved, there are a number of tests that are still awaiting results. pic.twitter.com/lfUsU8Vu7m

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 19, 2020

Yesterday, another 55 individuals were recorded as having recovered, but 80 new cases were identified – more than half of which (46) were detected through workforce screening.

The total is now 939, with 30 people in hospital recorded as having covid and 65 spread across local care homes. Just under 4,000 islanders have been deemed direct contacts.

Ministers had been anxiously awaiting this weekend’s figures to see what effect the hospitality circuit breaker had had on the spread of the virus locally before deciding if any new measures should be introduced today.

The number of active cases is 939.
583 cases are symptomatic and 356 are asymptomatic. 30 are in hospital (-).

Total Tests
216,286 negative tests (+1,785)
2,336 confirmed positive (+80)
1,370 confirmed recovered (+55)
609 pending

Further statistics: https://t.co/Maitmwkwf2

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 20, 2020

However, in a press conference called at short notice on Friday, it was announced that all indoor gatherings involving the mixing of households should stop “immediately.” 

In advice overriding previous Christmas guidance, the Chief Minister confirmed that islanders would only be allowed to have a mixed household gathering of up to 10 people on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, leading to concerns from some that it may disadvantage communities for whom Christmas Eve is the main festive celebration.

No New Year gatherings should be held.

Pictured: Islanders can only hold inter-household gatherings of up to 10 people on Christmas Day and Boxing Day under the new festive rules. 

It was also announced that all cafés and any other hospitality venues that remained open should close to customers and operate a takeaway-only service, while all islanders were told they should now work from home “unless essential to the running of their business.”