Phase Five to begin next week

Thursday 11 June 2020

Restrictions on gatherings and social distancing will be lifted in Guernsey next weekend, as the island moves into the penultimate phase of the corona virus exit strategy.

In Phase Five, which will come into place on Saturday 20 June, the islands will be able to operate as 'normal' within a 'Bailiwick bubble'.

That means all local businesses will be able to open as usual, including bars and nightclubs which had to remain closed during Phase Four. Members of the public will no longer need to queue to get into the shop, restaurants will be able to operate at full capacity and people will be able to stand at the bar and have a drink with their friends.

Contact sports will recommence, extra-curricular activities will be able get underway and all children's play areas will reopen.

Pictured: Contact sports like football will be able to begin again.

The only remaining restriction will be around travel, with anyone coming into the island still required by law to self isolate for two weeks. However, Public Health is still advising people to keep respecting personal space, practice good hygiene and stay at home if they feel unwell.

"79 days ago, on 24 March, I sat here and explained to you what lockdown meant," said President of Health & Social Care, Deputy Heidi Soulsby. "Staying at home, closing non-essential shops and services and stopping public gatherings. I told you that you could only leave your home for four basic reasons; shopping for basic necessities, up to two hours exercise a day, a medical need or travelling to and from work but only where this could not be done from home. I also told you that you had to keep two metres apart from anyone as you did so.

"The sheer enormity of the decisions we had made earlier in the day struck home with me that evening and is something I will never forget. I took no pleasure in having to do it.

"But, when I spoke to you then we had no idea where things would be in a week's time, let alone after a month. Modelling indicated that if we did nothing, we would see 1,800 deaths from covid-19 across the Bailiwick. We had to lock down." 

Since that day, the community has largely abided by Public Health's guidelines and has completely 'flattened the curve'.

That was helped by HSC's effective testing system and strategy, which has seen no new corona virus cases for 42 days.

"We should all be proud of what we have achieved," Deputy Soulsby added. "Guernsey Together hasn't just been a catch phrase, it has been a powerful call to arms. The community has come together in solidarity to get us where we are today, and it's because of all that hard work, the sacrifices, the community spirit, that HSC has been able to make a decision on moving to the next phase.

"Thank you to everyone for what you have done to get us where we are today."