COVID-19: Jersey to enter 'hospitality circuit breaker' as R rate spikes to between 1.6 and 2
There are fears that the Nightingale ward on the island could be called into service.
Thursday 3 December 2020 09:23, UK
A "hospitality circuit breaker" has been announced in Jersey as the R rate spikes to between 1.6 and 2.
The measures will take force from Friday, with warnings that the Nightingale Ward on the island may have to be reopened if the situation does not improve.
All hospitality venues will be forced to shut, as well as gyms and indoor sport and fitness classes.
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According to a statement from the Jersey government, support will be available to businesses affected, under the Co-funded Payroll Scheme Phase 3+.
Jersey has had 1,110 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 32 deaths related to the disease. There are currently 331 known active cases, according to the government website.
Shops can remain open but the 2m social-distancing law will be reintroduced.
The chief minister of the crown dependency, senator John Le Fondre, said: "We are seeing more cases in hospital and a continuing growth in the number of positive cases in the community.
"We have been briefed on the current R-rate, which is between 1.6 and 2.
"This means each case is, on average, passing the infection onto more than one other person.
"This is too much and we need to introduce more stringent restrictions to protect islanders.
"If we don't take this action now, we could be facing more stringent restrictions."
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The Jersey government has said it hopes to start providing the vaccine before the new year.
The firebreak measures will be reviewed regularly but will likely remain in place until 4 January 2021, the Jersey government said.
Health and social services minister, deputy Richard Renouf, said: "We have received some sobering advice from our scientific and medical colleagues, and we are convinced that this is the right approach.
"If these numbers continue to rise, we will need to open the Nightingale Ward.
"I have already made mask-use and contact-tracing a legal requirement, and the permitted size of gatherings has been reduced.
"Now it's time to take these restrictions further.
"This isn't a lockdown and we won't be limiting the time people can spend outside their homes, but we are trying to limit the potential for uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 by closing hospitality venues, gyms and indoor exercise classes, and by keeping people further apart in public areas."