Statement from the Chief Minister

I’d like to welcome the representatives of the Island’s media, as well as all of you who are watching and listening at home.

Thank you for taking the time to follow this press conference.

At the outset I want to provide reassurance to the many Islanders who have been asking, across the weekend, for details of how and when Jersey will exit lockdown. 

That detail, and more, will be made public by the end of this week.

Other jurisdictions, who are using a ‘traffic light’ system, have indicated they will be moving to a ‘red’ status which includes allowing restaurants to open for take-way service. This is the position Jersey is already in. 

I fully appreciate the impact that the continued lockdown is having on the mental and physical wellbeing of Islanders. 

The impact of isolation and loneliness should not be under-estimated, especially for those in a vulnerable situation. So please continue to support one another, and to make contact with our support services if you are concerned about friends, neighbours or family. 

And, if you are concerned about your physical health, even if not COVID-19 related please do seek medical advice as soon as possible, especially if you are suffering from new or unexplained symptoms. 

We want to be ready to take the next step, as soon as possible, to provide additional freedoms while ensuring Islanders are kept safe. We will always be guided by the expert advice of medical officers in deciding what is safe practice, and when we can implement it. 

We also want to outline the steps we will be taking to move our economy into recovery following the pandemic. This morning I met with Ministers and officers to begin the work of developing the Recovery Plan, which will outline the detailed initiatives needed to stimulate the economy, restore confidence and ensure continued prosperity.

In our press conference on Friday I was asked if the Government would publish additional statistical details about those who have died in our community, as a result of COVID-19.

Following agreement in the Emergencies Council, I committed to provide those details to the media and Islanders this week.

From today we will be publishing that additional data, including the place of death, the age ranges of the deceased, and their gender.

I know Islanders want to be provided with as much detail as possible, to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Jersey. 

I have said repeatedly that we want to balance providing this information with the right to privacy of the families of the deceased, allowing them to grieve in peace. 

I hope that while this information will be of use to local media and our community, we will continue to show respect to those who sadly died, and their families who are mourning in very challenging circumstances.

A total of 19 Islanders have now sadly died as a result of this pandemic. 

Of those deaths, 10 were confirmed, through laboratory testing, as being COVID-19 deaths, and 9 were presumptive Coronavirus deaths.

A total of 11 deaths took place within hospital care – 9 in the General Hospital, and 2 in St Saviours Hospital.

Outside of the hospital setting, 7 deaths have occurred in Island care homes, and 1 within an individual’s own home.

7 of those who sadly died were female, and 12 were male.

11% of those who died were aged 60 to 69 years, 37% were aged between 70 and 79, 32% were aged between 80 and 89 years, and 21% were aged over 90.

I’d like to also provide an update on our testing and healthcare capacity.

From the testing which took place over the weekend and today, we have now tested 2,545 samples for COVID-19 and have received 2,249 negative results and 283 positive results.

Of those with positive results, 41% are male and 58% are female. The average age of those who have tested positive is 54. 

The results of 13 tests are currently pending.

181 Islanders have now fully recovered from Coronavirus, having originally tested positive.
Of those who have recovered, 42% are male and 58% are female. And their average age is 48. 

77 Islanders are currently being treated in the General Hospital for a range of medical conditions. Of those, the number of Coronavirus patients has reduced to 12. 

There are 120 beds currently available in the hospital, giving us an occupancy rate of 39%

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this short update, which I hope has been helpful to Islanders and the media alike. I’m happy to now take questions.