Jersey to permit gatherings of five in soft lockdown

JERSEY’S islanders will be allowed to meet and socialise with up to five friends and residents each week in what could provide a blueprint for how Britain lifts its lockdown.

The island has launched a detailed four-point exit strategy to return life to normal, as the controlled lifting of the current restrictions begins.

Officials, who have been in charge of their own Covid-19 response, published a strategy covering all aspects of public life for its 100,000 residents. There have been 293 confirmed cases and 25 deaths.

Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, is at Level 4 of its exit strategy, which maintains the stay-at-home policy, keeps schools closed and prevents large-scale gatherings. On Tuesday, Jersey’s chief minister, John Le Fondre Jnr, is expected to announce Level 3, described as a “soft lockdown” The stay-at-home order will be lifted and there will be no restrictions on the time people can spend outside.

While social distancing of two metres will still be required, residents will be permitted to spend time with up to five people from outside their household. Schools will remain closed until May 22, but more children of key workers will be offered places during this period as they attempt to achieve full opening before the summer term ends.

All outdoor work will resume and groups of five people will be allowed to operate together on building sites and other premises. Non-essential shops will be given the green light to open, and restaurants and cafes with outdoor spaces will be allowed to start serving.

Offices will be encouraged to continue allowing staff to work from home where possible – they will be permitted to let workers return in stages. The plans are thought to go further than what Boris Johnson will announce on Sunday and if successful will allow Jersey to quickly move towards Level 2, or “soft opening”, which could come before June. That stage will allow gatherings of up to 10, and should see the opening of schools. Healthcare and dental practices will reopen, as will pubs and bars that serve food, although they will be asked to operate a reservation-only service initially.

Under Level 2, libraries, community centres, youth centres, places of worship, museums and galleries, cinemas, theatres and concert venues, will reopen, subject to social distancing rules.

The final strand of the framework is known as Level 1, or “physical distancing”, which will signal a move towards some degree of normality in Jersey.

Islanders will be allowed to mix with groups of up to 25, and sporting events can resume without spectators. Groups of up to 10 people will be allowed to meet inside and working from home will be phased out.

Pubs on the island will be allowed to reopen but customers will be required to sit down at spaced tables. Venues will also be required to close by 10pm. Hotels, self-catering accommodation, caravan parks and campsites will be allowed to reopen subject to guidelines and people will be allowed to travel to and from the island for the first time. Throughout all the levels of Jersey’s exit strategy, distancing of two metres will be required and locals will be encouraged to wear masks in public.

Mr Le Fondre told islanders: “Since Saturday, people have been enjoying their four hours permitted outside their homes, but have been doing so in a responsible way.

“Because of your actions, we are in a really good place. We’ve seen a minimal increase in the number of positive cases; we’ve begun our antibody testing programme and enhanced contract tracing; and the Nightingale Hospital has been handed over to medical staff.”

‘Because of your actions, we are in a really good place. We’ve seen a minimal increase in the positive tests’