Jersey ‘circuit-breaker’ until end of month
JERSEY’S ‘circuit-breaker’ restrictions to combat Covid-19 have been extended until at least 25 January.
Although schools will reopen from Monday, non-essential businesses, ‘close-contact’ operators such as hairdressers, hospitality and indoor recreation are due to stay shut until late January and in some cases longer.
Guidance also remains that people should not meet in each other’s homes or gardens, but islanders can meet outdoors where two-metre distancing can be maintained.
There are currently 332 active cases.
Yesterday was the first day of the Isle of Man’s second lockdown, put in place after seven new cases emerged on Tuesday.
At a press conference, Jersey ministers pledged to make a steady move away from the current restrictions.
The Minister for Health, Deputy Richard Renouf, said that from 18 January, it will be able to vaccinate 7,500 islanders per week, limited only by the amount received from the United Kingdom.
A total of 49,000 islanders will have received their first dose by 29 March, including all those at high-risk.
Everyone eligible should have received a first dose of the vaccine by 12 July and 49,000 will have received their second dose.
This will be completed by 6 September.
The updates also covered increased testing in schools, with 65,000 lateral flow tests being used to provide tests for all teachers and pupils in Years 11 and above set to be offered every week from 18 January until at least half-term.
The lateral flow testing, which offer results within 30 minutes but are not seen as reliable as PCR swab tests, will be supplemented by PCR tests for any positive cases, as well as a full round of PCR testing at half-term for this group.
