Case numbers fall for first time

Monday 08 February 2021

For the first time since the island went into lockdown, there were more recoveries from Covid-19 on Saturday than there were new cases identified.

In the latest published stats, accurate as of 23:59 on Saturday, there were 362 known active cases, down from 368 on Friday. That change is attributed to seven new cases from contacts, two new unexplained cases and 15 recoveries.

There are, however, now 10 people in hospital with Covid-19. Two of those are care home residents who are being looked after in Brock Ward following an outbreak at La Grande Lande in St Saviour's.

A States spokesperson said those patients are there because of the subsequent staffing shortage at the care home - which has seen all 11 residents moved to the PEH site - and not for clinical reasons.

Pictured: The test results, updated to show recoveries and cases picked up yesterday.

It is now a full two weeks since the island went into lockdown and members of the Civil Contingencies Authority have said that lockdown measures will be reviewed further early next week. 

The States is yet to publish its exit strategy from this wave of the pandemic, meaning that we do not know which restrictions will be eased first. The continued presence of a small number of unexplained cases is likely to weigh on the minds of decision-makers when they meet today to discuss the current restrictions. 

There is another media briefing scheduled for 13:00. 

Pictured top: Public Health Director Dr Nicola Brink.