Jersey hits new daily high of 96
CASES of Covid-19 in Guernsey have remained static over the weekend, but yesterday Jersey saw the largest daily rise in cases since the pandemic began, with 96 new ones reported.
Thirty people had recovered since the previous day, but that still left the island with more than 500 known cases as it implemented the toughest restrictions since lockdown.
As of 11.20am yesterday, there were four active cases of the virus in Guernsey, the same as on Friday.
However, the number of active cases in Jersey had risen to 516, of which 17 were in hospital and three in care homes.
Of those, 319 are symptomatic.
This marked the fifth day in a row where daily cases have been 60 or over, and the new daily figure was more than double that recorded during the previous peak of the virus in March and April.
While Guernsey continues to enjoy freedom from all restrictions as the island heads towards Christmas, as of Friday all Jersey licensed premises closed until the new year.
This ‘hospitality circuit breaker’, which includes restaurants and hotels, was announced by the island’s chief minister, Senator John Le Fondre.
Unless this action was taken, he said that there could be 1,100 active cases of Covid-19 by Boxing Day.
Hospital visits are not allowed, gyms must close and there can be no playing of indoor sports.
Compulsory mask wearing in enclosed public places was introduced last Monday, along with the instruction to work from home if possible.
People in Jersey have also been urged not to host large house parties, with a law to support that likely to be introduced this week.
There is also the possibility of household bubbles at Christmas.
The restrictions are likely to remain in force until 4 January.
There have been objections to the closure of fitness facilities and a petition has been started calling for gyms to be allowed to reopen with two-metre distancing in place.
As of yesterday this had garnered just under 4,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, the Dean of Jersey, the Very Rev. Mike Keirle, has urged Anglican congregations in the island to adopt a ‘church circuit breaker’ by not attending for two Sundays.
The head of Jersey Business, Graeme Smith, has said that comparing Jersey’s response to Covid-19 with Guernsey’s is like ‘comparing a Premier League football team to a French team’ because the two islands have
different economies, with Jersey relying more on tourism so its border controls have been less strict.
