Statement from the Chief Minister

Good evening

We’ve just finished the States Assembly meeting for today, and I want to give you a short update on our test results, the current capacity within our hospital, and the supply of PPE - which I know is of particular concern to Islanders.

We have now tested 2,220 samples for COVID-19 and have received 1,919 negative results and 255 positive results.

Of those with positive results, 42% are male and 58% are female. The average age of those who have tested positive is 54. 

And we are currently awaiting the results of 46 outstanding tests.

133 Islanders have now fully recovered from Coronavirus, having originally tested positive.

 
44% of those who have recovered are male, and 56% are female. Their average age is 46.

 
The number of Islanders who have sadly passed away, having tested positive or been suspected of having Coronavirus, presently remains at 14.

There are currently 68 Islanders being treated in Jersey General Hospital for a range of medical conditions. Of those, the number of Coronavirus patients remains at 14. 

There are 129 beds currently available in the hospital, giving us an occupancy rate of 35%.

Looking at the procurement of PPE, I want to emphasise that this remains an absolute priority of Ministers and the Government as a whole.

We will not allow a situation where healthcare staff, carers and frontline workers cannot get the equipment that they need to carry out their roles safely.

The Island received a large number of PPE consignments over the weekend, which has replenished and significantly enhanced the current PPE stock.

Additional shipments have arrived and are scheduled to arrive throughout this week.

In order to accommodate this amount of stock we are now storing PPE at three separate locations across the Island, as part of our resilience plan.

The Jersey Field Squadron is supporting Jersey’s response to COVID-19 by assisting with the coordination logistics for PPE distribution.

And the newly established portal is running well and is receiving daily orders from a wider range of organisations including the private health sector, emergency services, and Health and Community Services. Over 200 orders have now been received and processed.

Tomorrow at 3.30pm, subject to the States Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Farnham and the Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Gorst, will be holding a live press conference setting out the details of the second phase of our Payroll Co-Funding scheme. I hope many Islanders will tune in through our social media channels.

Thank you for listening. Please continue to follow Government advice, stay at home and stay safe.