COVID-19 updates

The Committee for Health & Social Care has again agreed to align the Bailiwick’s vaccination programme with the UK’s, following recent changes brought in based on advice from the JCVI.

Booster dose

It means that the following cohorts of children and young people will now be offered a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, no sooner than three months after completion of their primary course:

• Young people aged 16 to 17 years old
• Children and young people aged 12 to 15 who are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed
• Children and young people aged 12 to 15 who are severely immunosuppressed and who have had a third primary dose 

Invites will be sent to 16-17 year olds inviting them for their booster once the young person becomes eligible. However, if anyone in this cohorts believes they are already eligible they can contact the Vaccination Call Centre on 01481 220006.

Three months have not yet passed for the majority of the 12-15 year old cohort since their second dose. Invitations will be sent out when people become eligible.

Primary dose

The JCVI recommends that children aged 5 to 11 years old who are in a clinical risk group, or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed, should be offered two doses of the Pfizer vaccine with an interval of eight weeks between the first and second doses.

Read the media release.

The Civil Contingencies Authority has discussed and agreed a further phased reduction of remaining COVID-19 restrictions.   This week it will publish these in the ‘Bailiwick Blueprint – The Next Steps’ which sets out the measures which it intends to review and remove, giving indications where possible of the likely timeframes.

• The Civil Contingencies Authority to publish ‘Bailiwick Blueprint- The Next Steps’ setting out timeframes for review and further de-escalation of COVID-19 restrictions
• The CCA agreed to remove mandatory requirement for face coverings from midnight
• ‘Enhanced passive follow-up’ for positive cases released from isolation before day 10 is removed with immediate effect, and replaced with guidance asking individuals to follow sensible precautions 
• Other restrictions, including the requirement for positive cases to isolate are under review with further de-escalation intended for after February 17th

Read the media release. 

Islanders who are yet to have their booster jab will be able to attend walk-in clinics at the Harbour Terminal on Tuesday and Thursday this week, which are being run as a trial to see if the location is suitable for those who work in, or are visiting Town.

Read the media release. 

In a further easing of measures within education, from Monday (24th January 2022) there will no longer be an expectation that face coverings are worn in classrooms and teaching spaces in secondary and post-16 settings.

Read the media release.

As a result of the recent significant drop in the number of active COVID-19 cases, islanders will again have the option to receive a confirmatory PCR test should they receive a positive lateral flow test.

The Medical Officer of Health had previously, on 27th December 2021, announced an increased reliance on lateral flow tests to help manage the large increase in cases at that time.

However, following the steep decline in case numbers we are now in a position to again offer islanders the choice should they wish to have a PCR test following a positive LFT. If that PCR is negative, then the requirement to self-isolate will fall away. People who were symptomatic but testing LFT negative were always able to have a PCR test and this will remain the case.

It is important to emphasise that this change is about offering flexibility for islanders. There is no requirement to have a confirmatory PCR test if a positive LFT is present.

Read the media release.

The Civil Contingencies Authority has today confirmed a relaxation of Common Travel Area border testing requirements, effective tomorrow (Wednesday 19th January), while also announcing that other measures will be further eased from Monday (24th January). Numbers of known COVID-19 cases have dropped significantly in recent days as the Bailiwick has seen a sharp peak during the current wave followed by a steep decline.

As such the CCA is determined to de-escalate mitigations that have been in place, which have supported the community’s efforts to manage the current wave, as soon as possible but in a proportionate and staged approach.

Headlines include:

• Civil Contingencies Authority relaxes Common Travel Area border testing requirements from tomorrow (00.01am Wednesday 19th January 2022)
• CCA announces relaxation of self-isolation requirements and work from home advice, both effective from Monday 24th January 2022
• CCA will next week consider further relaxation of measures and timeline for de-escalation of emergency measures

Read the media release.

Education has announced a planned relaxation of measures in schools, removing classroom bubbles and re-introducing extra-curricular activities among other changes, effective from Monday 17th January.

From Monday, the management of the implications of COVID-19 in education settings will include:

• Secondary and post-16 students asked to take daily LFTs before attending
• Primary students asked to take an LFT on Monday, Wednesday and Friday before attending school
• Staff in all settings asked to take daily LFTs before attending
• As an additional mitigation following the removal of the package of enhanced measures, face coverings will now be expected in classrooms and teaching spaces in secondary and post-16 settings. They remain compulsory in communal areas for all staff and for secondary and post-16 students and for staff in communal areas within primary schools.

Measures in place since the start of term that are being removed include:

• Classroom bubbles
• School-run extra-curricular clubs and activities can resume
• On-island trips from one school to another (so to take part in swimming at another school, for example) can resume

Read the media release.

The Civil Contingencies Authority has discussed changes to the testing requirements for arrivals into the Bailiwick and agreed that it will continue to monitor the current Omicron wave for the coming days before making a decision on Tuesday 18th January on whether testing requirements can be relaxed.

Read the media release.

This clinic is for those aged 18+ requiring a booster dose, whose second dose was on or before the 11th October 2021.

First doses are also available for anyone aged 12+. Please note children aged 12-15 will need to come in with a parent/guardian.

Second doses are available for those aged 18+ whose first dose was on or before the 16th November 2021 and for those aged 12-17 whose first dose was on or before the 19th October 2021.

A midwife will be available from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

If you have received an appointment letter already, please attend at that time.

Please note that if you have recently had COVID-19, you cannot have your booster until 28 days have passed since your positive test. Those aged 17 and under should wait 12 weeks.

If someone in your household tested positive for COVID please do not attend the drop in clinic. Instead, please phone the VCC on 220006 to book a drive through appointment.

Please ensure that you have a negative Lateral Flow Test on the day of your vaccination before attending the CVC.

If you are experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms, no matter how mild, please do not attend the CVC. Instead, contact the Clinical Helpline on 01481 220001 or 01481 220002.

The Community Vaccination Centre at Beau Sejour is open this week so make sure you get your booster if you haven't already:

Monday 10th Jan 14:00 – 19:30

Tuesday 11th Jan 09:30 – 14:00

Wednesday 12th Jan 14:00 – 19:30

Thursday 13th Jan 09:30 – 14:00

Friday 14th Jan 14:00 – 19:30

Saturday 15th Jan 09:30 – 14:00