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Wednesday 10 March 2021

Guernsey is almost free of Covid-19, with the island down to just one known positive case.

That person is currently in hospital with the virus.

With no new cases identified for 11 days, hopes are high that we will soon be free of community restrictions, potentially in the next fortnight.

Four positive cases of the Kent variant of corona virus emerged late on 22 January, leading to an immediate lockdown the following day. Case numbers accelerated in the week after lockdown measures were introduced, as cases were linked to 12 educational settings, the Ship & Crown Pub, the Dance Festival and three supermarkets. 

After reaching a peak of 366 cases on 8 February, the effects of closing down everyday life started to take hold, with the number of Covid recoveries outnumbering new cases on a daily basis. 

Schools have this week re-opened to all students and restrictions on businesses have gradually relaxed. Border restrictions remain in place, with people still needing to apply for an essential travel permit to be allowed to come here or to book a return trip. 

Today's 1pm media briefing is expected to provide updates on the first days of Stage 2.

It is also known that the Civil Contingencies Authority is due to receive and consider a paper this week regarding how and at what speed the island's border restrictions will be eased.