Jersey moves to watchlist as it struggles to 'hold the line'

Tuesday 10 November 2020

Jersey has been moved to our Category 3 watch list, amid warnings that the island is reaching a ‘tipping point’ where clusters could become out of control.

Our sister Channel Island currently has 106 active cases and approximately 89 cases per 100,000 members of the public, which is still within Category 3 in Guernsey's travel regulations.

However, a recent rise in cases, and particularly clusters. suggests that it could soon exceed the 100-per-100,000 threshold for Category 4.

In a press conference on Friday, Jersey’s Chief Minister urged islanders to follow the health guidelines or risk another lockdown. This message was particularly directed at young people, after Halloween parties were identified as a source of several recent clusters.

Less than 24 hours after this warning, honorary officers broke up a bonfire gathering of more than 60 adults, flouting the island’s current restriction of 40 people at public events.

Our collective actions will make a difference in reducing Covid-19 transmission. We must act now. We must act responsibly. For the best ways to protect yourself and others, visit https://t.co/XA5GrowWtk for more information. pic.twitter.com/qn1QvQ91H1

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) November 9, 2020

Jersey has had 643 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with over half of those cases occurring since 1 July. The island has placed far fewer restrictions on travel, instead asking citizens to observe physical distancing and to use masks in public spaces.

The recent rise in cases mirrors the ‘second wave’ that has occurred in the UK since mid-late September. Guernsey, too, has identified a higher number of positive cases at its borders in recent weeks, however these have been linked to a single cluster and others identified through on-arrival tests.