Update on financial support measures expected next week

Thursday 07 May 2020

The live streamed media briefings relating to the Bailiwick's fight against corona virus will drop to once a week after the bank holiday weekend, with the financial support measures for businesses likely to be one of the focal points at next week's meeting.

The briefings which started as appointments for the island's journalists to ask the Director of Public Health about the growing threat of covid-19 evolved into regular live-streamed events watched by a peak of 15,000 people.

At one point they were being held three times a week as the Bailiwick was seeing increasing numbers of positive cases, and deaths, relating to covid-19.

As the numbers plateaued and the situation became more stable under lockdown, the briefings dropped to twice a week. 

From today onwards they will be held on a Friday lunchtime, once a week - unless the panel need to communicate urgent information with the islands at other times.

Speaking to Express after today's briefing, the States Chief Executive, Paul Whitfield confirmed he will be giving an update on the financial support measures in place at next Friday's briefing.

Express has received numerous requests for information from businesses and self employed individuals who say they have not yet received any money from the States despite applying at the end of March.

Mr Whitfield said the most up to date information on the number of applications received and processed is already planned to be collated for next week to give as comprehensive an update as possible.

For the latest information on the Bailiwick's response to the corona virus pandemic, including the business support measures click HERE. 

Pictured top: Paul Whitfield.