Testing results

There are currently 2 patients being managed within the PEH with COVID-19. No patients are currently requiring intensive care or ventilatory support.

Using modelling from other jurisdictions we would expect in the region of 8 to 15% of total infected cases require hospital care.

The next 7 to 14 days will be critical as we determine if the cases introduced to Guernsey have resulted in secondary cases that have affected the more vulnerable in our community.

3 COVID-19 deaths reported.

• An analysis of demographic data indicates the following:
• 52% are males; 48% are females
• Average age at infection.  Persons: 56; males: 57; females 54
• We have seen infections in individuals aged less than one year to over 90 years

We are defining recovery as having no virus detectable on their nose/throat swab on Day 14.

27 people with proven COVID-19 have been confirmed to have recovered from COVID-19 and have no virus detectable on their nose/throat swab. 

Contact tracing is on-going for the contacts of the cases identified. This occurs on a daily basis and on into the evening. This is progressing well and at least two of the new cases were identified through the contact tracing process.

It is estimated there are 1,439 islanders under compulsory self-isolation, which equates to 2.2% of the island's population.

Among 10 cases we have identified 4 clusters:

• Cluster 1 - (French ski trip)
• Cluster 2 - (2nd French ski trip)
• Cluster 3 - (Germany / Austria ski trip)
• Cluster 4 - (3rd French ski trip)

From Wednesday 1 April, welfare calls for those who have been directed to self-isolate will not be carried out by Public Health Services. This is as a result of the fantastic community response, with support services now available through the third sector, enabling Public Health Services to direct their efforts elsewhere. More information is available on our Guernsey together pages.

This information is correct as of 1 April, based on our current capacity. It is likely to change as more reagent, the chemicals needed to run the test, arrives on-island which will increase our capacity to test the samples locally.

The on-Island testing facility was commissioned for use at the end of March and has the capacity to process 40 samples per day. The laboratory in Colindale has also agreed to process 35 samples a day.

Initially testing was limited to those who had returned to the Bailiwick from an affected area who showed symptoms of COVID-19. This has now been extended to the following groups as a result of on-island testing:

• Up to 30 patients attending the Longfrie Surgery/Chest and Heart Unit with symptoms consistent with COVID-19
• All patients who are admitted to the hospital or attend the Emergency Department with respiratory symptoms;
• Any other patient in the community, for example in a residential and nursing home, where the GP is concerned about possible COVID-19
• Any other urgent requests such as to release emergency crews who are contacts of suspected cases

Testing for those people who return to the Bailiwick who are symptomatic (fever, cough or shortness of breath) is still available, and for those who are identified as symptomatic contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19. These tests are carried out at a drive-through testing facility at the harbour.