WATCH: 'Islanders should limit all non-essential travel and self-isolate if experiencing any symptoms'

And now islanders with any flu-like or respiratory symptoms are being asked to self-isolate, irrespective of whether they have recently travelled.

Due to the evolving coronavirus situation, Public Health and Health & Social Care have revealed new measures to protect the island's community and infrastructure.

The news follows the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a pandemic and one Guernsey person being diagnosed with the virus.

'We are recommending that islanders limit all non-essential travel off-island,' director of public health Dr Nicola Brink said.

'Travelling to areas where there is ongoing viral replication and seeding poses a potential risk not only to that individual but to our island infrastructure.'

Limiting non-essential travel onto Guernsey and Alderney was also advised.

New measures were also brought in to manage people with respiratory symptoms on the island.

Now, regardless of travel history, those people with flu-like or respiratory symptoms [fever, sore throat, runny nose, blocked nose, cough] are to stay at home for the entire duration of their symptoms and until 48 hours after the symptoms have cleared.

This is to limit any spread on the island and take any infected people out of the community.

Some people might have the symptoms but not feel that unwell. Those people are being encouraged to work from home.

People are being asked not to go into work or school or a public place if they have any of the respiratory symptoms, as this will help limit any of the spread within the island.

'It is a cautious approach but we are looking at protecting our islanders in the broader sense,' Dr Brink said.

Testing policies have also been looked at and modified.

'As from today [12/03/2020], anyone who is admitted to our hospital with flu-like symptoms will be tested for Covid-19 and any patients with respiratory symptoms in intensive care will be tested for Covid-19.'

This will increase awareness of the spread of the virus and help detect all possible cases.

The countries which islanders return from and require testing is constantly being reviewed.

Policy & Resources president Deputy Gavin St Pier said the change in advice was significant.

‘If you are experiencing those conditions you should stay at home, so it is likely there will now be a considerable number of our community who will need to change the way they are living to follow that advice.’

He said while islanders should not panic, they should be in no doubt at how serious this situation was: 'This is the most significant public health challenge since the Second World War.'