Stay Home measures are amended

01 May 2020

From tomorrow (Saturday 2 May), some of the Stay at Home measures introduced on 30 March to safeguard Islanders from the impact of COVID-19 will be relaxed, to support Islanders’ wellbeing.

The changes do not amount to lifting the lockdown order, but are intended to make it easier for people to cope while it continues.

Islanders are still being asked to stay at home most of the time. However, the following changes will come into effect from Saturday 2 May to make it easier to manage wellbeing while the lockdown lasts.

These include:

• an increase in the time allowed outside the home from two to up to four hours per day
• time can be spent outside the home for any outdoor activity, not just for exercise (necessary shopping, medical needs and providing care also remain valid reasons)
• time can be spent outdoors with members of your own household (as now) plus up to two people you don’t live with, as long as you keep a distance of two metres

These small changes to the Stay at Home instruction will benefit everyone’s wellbeing but are particularly intended to ease the effects of the lockdown for people in cramped accommodation, people without access to a garden or balcony; people in stressful family or co-habiting situations and people living alone or feeling socially isolated.

The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, said: “Exiting safely from lockdown is likely to take a number of months, and we will progress more safely towards exit if we continue to work together.  COVID-19 is spread via physical contact. As we progress along the exit roadmap, more contact will be possible, but we won’t immediately be returning to ‘normal life’.

“The staged approach to increasing physical contact is critical in helping us manage infection rates and to avoid overwhelming our health and care services.”

The risk of catching COVID-19, and spreading it to others, remains. When outside their homes, Islanders should keep two metres away from anyone they don’t live with, maintain good hygiene: wash their hands regularly, cough into their elbow and avoid touching their face. The wearing of cloth masks is advised, especially in indoor public spaces such as shops.

These changes to the ‘Stay Home’ instruction do not immediately change the guidance for people whose health conditions make them vulnerable to COVID-19 (those aged 65+, or with certain conditions). However, the Government recognises that anyone’s health and welfare is likely to deteriorate if they have to remain in their homes for too long. In the coming weeks, more information and support will be provided to people in these groups so they can make informed choices about risks to their own health and wellbeing as the pandemic progresses.

Further changes to the ‘Stay Home’ guidance will be issued.