Keep checking this page for all the latest news on COVID-19.
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Media Briefing - 24th March 2020
Following the advice of the Director of Public Health, the Civil Contingencies Authority has made further emergency regulations requiring strict new measures in the Bailiwick from 00:01 on Wednesday 25th March. This decision has been made based on the number of positive cases of COVID-19 on the Island, the testing protocol due to laboratory capacity in the UK and the identification of the first case of community transmission (community seeding).
As of 14:00 there have been 23 positive results, 286 negative results with 89 results outstanding. The single most important action we can now take as a community in fighting the coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect our Island and our medical infrastructure and save lives.
There strict measures will be put in place initially for 14 days, and include:
- Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
- Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
- Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public
Every Islander must comply with these new measures. The relevant authorities, including the police, will be given the powers to enforce them - including through fines and dispersing gatherings.
These measures will be reviewed in 14 days, and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible. Guidance on staying at home and away from others can be found 
here [462kb].
Guidance on shielding [844kb] is also available and this is for people, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) because of an underlying health condition, and for their family, friends and carers.
Media Release - Strict Measures in Place from Midnight Tonight - 24 March 2020 [549kb]
A message from the Bailiff
Following confirmation of the first case of community seeding of coronavirus, and new restrictions on Islanders to stay at home, the Bailiff Sir Richard Collas has this message for the residents of the Bailiwick.
Critical businesses and workers during the implementation of these strict measures
During the period where strict new measures on staying at home are in place, only businesses and workers ESSENTIAL to providing for the island's current needs will operate.
Following the decision made by the Civil Contingencies Authority on the advice of the Director of Public Health, any business not covered by the groups of essential functions listed in the guidance below MUST CLOSE from tomorrow (Wednesday 25th March 2020).
Staff that are required to support the functioning of these essential services are considered critical workers. These critical workers can continue to send their children to their current school, college or early years provider if they do not have alternative childcare arrangements.
Guidance on critical businesses and workers can be found Guidance for critical businesses and workers following strict new measures on staying at home [491kb].
Guernsey Payroll Co-Sharing Scheme and grant scheme
The Policy & Resources Committee has also established a Guernsey Payroll Co-Sharing Scheme and grant scheme for Island businesses and self-employed workers. More information can be found at www.gov.gg/covid19businessguidance in the updated guidance document.
Medicines
Islanders are being reassured there is no need to stockpile over the counter medicines or to ask pharmacies to dispense repeat prescriptions before their valid date. The earliest a pharmacy can dispense a prescription is four days before the date on the prescription. If you are unable to collect your prescription, you can ask a friend, relative or a volunteer to pick them up when needed. Some pharmacies also offer home delivery services.
Contact details
The Coronavirus Contact details are available below. However, in the first instance, please refer to the other Coronavirus webpages and supporting guidance as high volumes of calls and emails are being received.
