WATCH: 'We're heading in exactly the right direction' - Dr Brink

Covid -19 Press Briefings in the future will drop to twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Civil Contingencies Authority chair Deputy Peter Ferbrache said with all things going well currently, the plan was still to move to Stage 1 of the lockdown exit on Monday.

'When we started off this current outbreak [22 January] we were very much on the back foot, not that we were unprepared, but we didn't expect to have this contest,' Deputy Ferbrache said.

'We're ahead on points at the moment but we have got to make sure we remain ever-vigilant.'

Stage 1 is 'dipping our toe' in the water, and businesses should think carefully about whether they open, if they can do so within the parameters of that stage.

It is very unlikely schools will open in Stage 1, but regular contact is being had with Education officers.

Talking about face coverings, Deputy Ferbrache said compliance was good even before they became mandatory in indoor public spaces.

Making them mandatory was to enhance that level of protection further, but islanders should not take enforcement into their own hands when they see someone not wearing a face covering. Sunflower lanyards and exemption cards need to be respected.

Talking about the local situation regarding cases, director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink said while 500 cases had been seen in the second wave, 411 have recovered and sadly one has died.

As of midday today, the number of active cases had fallen to 85.

Two people are in hospital.

Fewer people are presenting with respiratory symptoms in Primary Care settings and the Emergency Department.

Trends are heading in exactly the right direction, she said.

Sounding a note of caution, Dr Brink reminded people to be vigilant.

On Wednesday, both cases found were contacts of known cases.

Yesterday, one case was a contact and one was found through pro-active searching with workforce screening - but it is still classed as an unknown community case.

'We know that we will see asymptomatic cases, those people might be pre-symptomatic so it's really important to isolate those cases to reduce spread,' Dr Brink said.

The situation with recoveries is looking very positive, with the curve not only flattening but dropping down again.

Over 19,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered, 5,334 of which have also had the second dose.

'Our dose per 100 people in the population in 29.5 as of 14 February,' she said.

This figure allows the Bailiwick to compare its vaccine roll-out with other jurisdictions.

Talking about long-Covid, she said: 'The symptoms of acute Covid can last for up to four weeks.

'When people still have symptoms of Covid for four-12 weeks, we're calling that on-going symptomatic Covid.'

Post Covid-19 syndrome is when symptoms develop during or after the infection and last more than 12 weeks.

To get an idea of how many people still have post-Covid syndrome, a survey will be sent out to everyone in the Bailiwick who had Covid.

'The likelihood of developing long-covid is not related to the severity of infection.'

Most common symptoms include breathlessness and fatigue. Many also describe a symptom called 'brain fog'.

Symptoms can fluctuate or be constant, so Dr Brink wants to ensure that there is not another condition that could be causing these symtoms.

The survey will be sent out around June. But in the meantime, if people do have symtoms, see your GP for a full assessment. The GP may then refer you on to specialist services.

Talking about release triggers, Dr Brink said we are in an optimistic position.

'We've had a really strong outbreak of a variant virus but we've controlled it really well.

'As we ease [ out of lockdown ] we may see more cases, but that's why we've got our track and trace programme.'

Unless something occurs over the weekend, Public Health is confident to move to Stage 1 on Monday.

States chief executive said the ultimate goal at the moment is still to limit contacts.

'There must be no community contact,' he said about businesses operating in Stage 1.

This is not only between staff and customers, but between customers themselves picking up items from a business that is doing collections.

Talking about schools, he said Stage 2 would see a phased return of all students.

Measures will be in place like staggered start and finish times, as well as class and year-group bubbles, which students and staff will be familiar with from the first lockdown.