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Islanders are being urged once again to take responsible steps to limit the transmission of covid-19 in the community.
The States of Guernsey are reminding islanders of continuing advice to limit the spread of the virus, including staying at home if you feel unwell, taking lateral flow tests and wearing face coverings.
Cases of covid-19 have been increasing in the island, with more than 1,000 new cases reported in the last week.
Pictured: There has been an increase in covid cases in Guernsey in recent weeks.
Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink, said covid remains something we need to be aware of and take precautions against.
“Our weekly case numbers show that covid-19 has not gone away and therefore the need for vigilance and sensible decisions from islanders hasn’t gone away either,” she said.
“This is what living responsibility with covid looks like.
“Our vaccination programme has been a huge success story in terms of keeping people out of hospital, but there remains the very real risk that essential services could be impacted by staff shortages if large numbers catch covid-19.”
Pictured: The use of face masks is encouraged in enclosed indoor spaces.
Business owners and managers are being asked to support staff who are sick and to actively encourage them to stay at home if they are unwell.
The use of face coverings is also being encouraged in enclosed indoor spaces, where social distancing is not possible or where ventilation is poor.
Individual organisations and business may have their own policies requiring face coverings, which should be respected.
The Government will continue to supply lateral flow testing kits free of charge to islanders.
“We would ask people not to stockpile the lateral flow testing kits. There is no need for daily general surveillance testing for members of the community, so we would ask individuals and business to take a proportiate amount of kits,” said the States of Guernsey.
“Taking a lateral flow test if you are a contact of a positive case or are symptomatic remains best practice.”
Pictured: Dr Brink said: "We need the community to continue to work with us".
Dr Brink said it was important for islanders to take responsibility for containing the spread of the virus.
“No one wants to see our core services struggling to meet the need of islanders so it is really important that we all continue to take responsibility, stay at home if we are unwell and certainly if you know you are covid positive,” she said.
“We are in an enviable position compared to other jurisdictions, with hardly any legal restrictions in place, but we need the community to continue to work with us, including businesses to encourage their staff to do the right thing, so that we can continue safely moving forward.”
All positive cases should notify Public Health online HERE.
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