On Air Now Dan Mills Noon - 4:00pm
Now Playing Rihanna Pon De Replay

Ministers Pledge 3,500 Coronavirus Tests Per Week

The Chief Minister has pledged to increase tests for coronavirus up to 500 a day from next week.

No new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Jersey over the last four days.

293 people in Jersey have tested positive for COVID-19, and 207 are known to have recovered.

Senator John Le Fondré announced the increase in testing during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Health Minister, Deputy Richard Renouf says wide-scale testing is important, especially for those most at risk:

"We have begun our community antibody testing pilot scheme, and have also started the work to increase the number of daily swab tests – including for frontline medical staff and Islanders with any symptom of Coronavirus.

"We will continue our work to increase our swab and antibody testing, to trace the spread of the virus, and to ensure that the protection of those  most vulnerable to COVID-19 is our absolute priority."

Results from a pilot scheme offering antibody testing to 500 households are due to be published tomorrow.

We're due to move to a 'soft lockdown' as of next week, as the government moves to Level 3 of its Safe Exit Framework:

Level 4: Lockdown

Calendar date Until Sunday 10th May

Physical Distancing: Keep a two metre distance with people outside your home.

Leaving home: You can go out for up to four hours a day - but only for essential shopping, medical care and outdoor activities.

Gatherings: Household + 2. You can spend time outside with your household and up to two other people. Larger groups and going into others' homes are still not allowed.

Education: All schools and colleges remain closed.

Travel: On-island travel allowed, passenger ferries cancelled and flights only running to Southampton for medical/compassionate reasons or essential work.

Hospitality: Restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels have to stay closed.

Leisure: 'Non-essential' venues have to stay closed.

Retail: 'Essential' shops can remain open as long as physical distancing is maintained. 'Non-essential' shops have to stay closed.

Businesses: 'Essential' work is allowed, but employees should be working from home where possible. Up to two people can work and travel together, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

Level 3: Soft Lockdown

Calendar date Monday 11th May-Thursday 11th June

Physical Distancing: Keep a two metre distance with people outside your home.

Leaving home: Allowed out for up to six hours a day, but we're advised to stay at home as much as possible.

Gatherings: Household + 5. You can spend time outside with your household and up to five other people. Larger groups and going into others' homes are still not allowed.

Education: Schools reopened from Monday 8th June.

Travel: On-island travel allowed, passenger ferries cancelled and flights only running to Southampton for medical/compassionate reasons or essential work.

Hospitality: Restaurants, pubs and hotels that offer outside eating areas can re-open as long as diners can physically distance themselves. Bars and other drinks-only venues have to stay closed.

Leisure: Some outdoor 'non-essential' attractions can re-open, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

Retail: 'Essential' shops can remain open as long as physical distancing is maintained. 'Non-essential' shops can begin to re-open as long as they adhere to physical distancing rules.

Businesses: Outdoor work can resume, as long as teams have fewer than five people. Businesses can allow some staff to return to offices in a staged way, but employees should be working from home where possible. Work requiring entry to private homes is now allowed under strict guidelines.

Level 2: Soft Opening

Calendar date Friday 12th June-Friday 7th August

Physical Distancing: Keep a two metre distance with people outside your home.

Leaving home: Limits and restrictions on going out lifted, but we're advised to stay at home as much as possible.

Gatherings: Household + 20. You can spend time outside with your household and up to 20 other people. Larger groups and going into others' homes are still not allowed.

Education: Schools gradually re-opening from Monday 8th June, starting with years 6, 10 and 12.

Travel: On-island travel allowed. Flights and passenger ferries also allowed as soon as travel routes are re-instated by the operators.

Hospitality: Restaurants, pubs and hotels that offer outside eating areas can re-open as long as diners can physically distance themselves. Bars and other drinks-only venues have to stay closed.

Leisure: Libraries, community centres, youth clubs, places of worship, museums, cinemas, theatres and other attractions can re-open as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

Retail: All shops are allowed to open, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

Businesses: Businesses can allow some staff to return to offices in a staged way, but employees should be working from home where possible. Businesses with proof they are able to physically distance can re-open fully.

Level 1: Physical Distancing

Calendar date From Saturday 8th August until a vaccine is created

Physical Distancing: Keep a one metre distance with people outside your home.

Leaving home: No restrictions on going out, but we need to keep one metre away from others at all times.

Gatherings: Household + 25. You can spend time outside with your household and up to 25 other people. Larger groups are still not allowed, but groups of up to 10 people are now allowed in private homes.

Education: Schools gradually re-opening from Monday 8th June, starting with years 6, 10 and 12.

Travel: All on and off-island travel is allowed, as soon as travel routes are re-instated by the operators.

Hospitality: All pubs, bars and restaurants are able to re-open, as long as physical distancing is maintained. Hotels, B&Bs and other accomodation can also re-open subject to guidelines.

Leisure: Libraries, community centres, youth clubs, places of worship, museums, cinemas, theatres and other attractions can re-open as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

Retail: All shops are allowed to open, as long as physical distancing is maintained.

Businesses: All staff are now able to return to their regular place of work, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.

More from Jersey News


Channel 103 VIP

Become a Channel 103 VIP!