Limits on gatherings in sister isle for Christmas

It comes as the island confirmed that 58 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed yesterday, taking it to 630 active cases.

The guidance will run between 23 December and 5 January.

People in Jersey are advised to only meet in gatherings of six or more on three occasions in total during the festive period and to only socialise at other times in small, consistent groups.

The Christmas public health guidance maintains that no gatherings of more than 10 people can take place at any time, indoors, including private homes and gardens. Outdoor gatherings in public places will be limited to a maximum of 20.

With gatherings of six or more, only one such gathering can happen in a day. With smaller groups of up to five people, they can happen more than once a day and they will not count towards the three gathering limit.

Children under three do not count towards gathering totals.

Gatherings for formal religious worship and organised support for vulnerable islanders will be limited to 20 people, with strict public health measures. Such activities will not be included within the three gathering limit.

Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondre said he appreciated that this will not be the Christmas some Jersey people were used to celebrating.

‘I am asking islanders to socialise in very small groups over the festive period and to only plan three special occasions with their wider family and friends, safely,’ he said.

‘The limit of three is there to protect the more vulnerable members of our families and our island. Without these limitations, the spread of Covid-19 could prove fatal to those we love. We want to protect the most vulnerable and the impact of uncontrolled gatherings would see our number of active cases rise exponentially.’

There are currently no restrictions in Guernsey, except for inbound travellers, and three known active cases.