Rise in Covid cases

16 June 2022

​Deputy Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat, has issued the following statement:

"In the past 10 days, we have seen a sustained and significant rise in cases of COVID-19 on-Island which is mirrored in the UK. As in the UK, this increase in prevalence of the virus in Jersey is likely to be due to the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of Omicron. The situation remains under review by the Public Health Team. 

"I encourage Islanders to keep doing the right thing by continuing to follow public health guidance, which includes doing regular Lateral Flow Tests (LFT), particularly before visiting vulnerable individuals or high risk settings such as the hospital and care homes. Islanders are also reminded to continue to wear a mask when inside the hospital and other healthcare settings. 

Islanders continue to be encouraged to:

• keep up to date with vaccination
• improve ventilation by opening windows
• isolate if symptomatic and get a PCR test
• use a lateral flow test twice a week or before visiting vulnerable people
• wash and sanitise hands regularly

"As the election approaches, Islanders are reminded to take an LFT before going to their polling stations to vote. If you are unwell on election day and cannot make it to your polling station, the advice is to contact your Parish Hall as soon as possible and they will send an official to you to take your vote.

"The COVID Safe teams have been working with the parishes and States Greffe to do on-site visits and make sure vote sites are following COVID Safe guidance. I'd like to thank the parishes for their continued cooperation.

"Anyone who has not yet completed their vaccine schedule - which includes their booster, and if eligible their spring booster - is encouraged to book online at www.gov.je/vaccine 

"Islanders can update their vaccination schedule at any point, however, the Spring Booster programme will close at the end of June."