Businesses seeking to claim for financial support through the payroll co-funding scheme are reminded they can submit claims for March from 1st April 2021. If businesses have questions, email business.support@gov.gg or call 01481 743803.
LIVE
COVID-19 updates
11:10am - 26 March
Payroll co-funding claims for March open on April 1st
9:35am - 25 March
Speech Of Chief Minister And Chair Of The Civil Contingencies Authority, On The First Anniversary Of The Bailiwick Entering Its First Covid-19 ‘Lockdown’
Sir,
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak again today. Yesterday I stood up to speak about the work of the Policy & Resources Committee. It was an important statement because that is important work, for our community and its future. But what I am about to speak about now has weighed more heavily on my mind: it is one year to the day since the Bailiwick entered its first lockdown, in its extraordinary effort to counter the threat posed by a new virus and a new disease, COVID-19. But what words can one find to articulate truly the significance of that day, the sense of strangeness and bewilderment that this could really be happening; the enormity and seriousness of the decision for those tasked with making it; the fear and uncertainty of what it would mean; the many, many questions. How long would it last? What damage would be done to jobs, businesses and our economy? Would a lockdown actually do what we hoped it would – save lives?
Since that day, so much has happened. We have entered and exited lockdown not once but twice. We are right now again enjoying the revitalising sense that comes with being fresh out of lockdown. We don’t have to stay at home. We don’t have to limit the family and friends we see. We don’t have to explain to our children why schools are closed. We don’t have to wonder how long it will be before we next get some real, fully paid work. We don’t have to worry that one of our loved ones may be the next person to test positive for COVID. A year ago, we might not have considered that we would feel so fortunate for these simple things. Things we once all took for granted.
We can and should celebrate our success as a community in responding to this threat, a threat like no other in our lifetimes, a threat like we never imagined in peace-time. How absolutely tremendous, how awe-inspiring, how deeply and forever moving has been the way the people of this Bailiwick have come together. It is historic and should never be forgotten and that is not an overstatement.
But for all the celebrations, we must also mourn. During our first lockdown there were 13 COVID-related deaths. 13 mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, grandparents, brothers, sisters. 13 Islanders. And in this second lockdown, one more. One more life tragically lost.
Many more were ill, some seriously, and some of those continue to feel the effects of this illness.
And then there are so many who have paid a price in some other way, because of this pandemic. Those who’ve lost their job, those cut off from family and friends because of the unprecedented restrictions we’ve had to keep in place at our borders for a year.
Think on it. A year, with hardly any travel into or out of our Islands. A year of watching the whole world struggle to understand and contain and combat this virus. Think how unreal it would all seem just one year ago.
For a lot of this year, compared to many other places, we’ve felt safe – special even – in our little Bailiwick bubble. But preserving that bubble, and more recently, re-establishing that bubble has taken so much hard work.
So as we mark this strange anniversary, which gives us cause to both celebrate and lament, let us also be grateful. We give our thanks to Islanders for their cooperation, their commitment to protecting each other, and protecting their Islands. We give our thanks to those who’ve worked on the frontlines in both lockdowns, from the supermarkets to the care homes, from the testing tents to the ports. We give our thanks that while lives have been lost here in our Islands, so so many have been saved. Saved by the good work of all of us in this Bailiwick.
12:00pm - 23 March
COVID-19 Vaccines for Bailiwick students studying in the UK
Public Health Services has received a number of queries from parents asking whether their children, who are studying in the UK, can be vaccinated before they return to the UK.
Students are entitled to the vaccine in the UK, and in the Bailiwick, when their age group opens up. It is not possible for the Bailiwick to bring forward vaccinations outside of the agreed priority order.
1:00pm - 22 March
Unemployment lower than during previous lockdown
The total number of people unemployed in Guernsey reached 1,000 at the end of February 2021, whilst the island was in Stage 1 of its exit from lockdown framework.
This is significantly lower than the number of people unemployed during comparative stages of exit from lockdown in 2020.
5:00pm - 19 March
Face masks remain mandatory at the PEH but most HSC services return to normal in Stage 3
With the start of Stage 3 on Monday 22 March the hospital will be back open to visitors as normal and all services will have resumed, but anyone attending the PEH will still be required to wear a face mask for the duration of their visit.
2:00pm - 19 March
Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people
As Guernsey moves into Stage 3 of the exit from lockdown on Monday 22 March 2021, the Civil Contingencies Authority has decided that organisers of large indoor events will be asked to keep a record of those in attendance and take into account the following Public Health guidance:
- Hand sanitiser or hand washing facilities are readily available;
- The indoor space is well ventilated;
- People who are unwell or showing symptoms of COVID-19 are asked not to attend and instead immediately call the clinical helpline;
- People respect each other’s personal space;
- Face coverings are optional.
2:00pm - 17 March
Guernsey to remove restrictions on life and work in the Island from Monday
The Civil Contingencies Authority has agreed that from Monday 22nd March, Guernsey will move to Stage 3 of its Exit from Lockdown. This will mark the end of nearly all the remaining lockdown restrictions which were brought in on the 23rd January, after four positive cases of COVID-19 from unknown sources were identified.
3:40pm - 16 March
Policy & Resources Committee agrees business support measures for Stage 3
Ahead of a move to Stage 3 of the Bailiwick’s Exit from Lockdown, the Policy & Resources Committee has agreed what business support measures should continue and which sectors should continue to be eligible for support.
3:00pm - 16 March
How priority groups 4b and 6 of the vaccine programme has been determined
At the media briefing on Friday 12 March 2021, the President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, Deputy Al Brouard, explained how we know who to contact for Priority Group 4b – clinically extremely vulnerable and Group 6 – those aged 18 to 65 years at moderate risk of the vaccine programme. More info on this has now been released.
3:00pm - 15 March
States of Guernsey responds to the temporary suspension of AstraZeneca vaccine in other jurisdictions
At the media briefing on Friday 12 March 2021, Deputy Al Brouard – President of the Committee for Health & Social Care commented on the recent news that Denmark and a small number of other countries have decided to temporarily suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports that it had caused blood clots in a very small number of patients.
