Covid-19: This week at a glance...

Saturday 28 March 2020

With global and local newsfeeds constantly refreshing with new information about the growing virus outbreak, it’s easy to lose track of the latest update.

Express has its eye on how covid-19 is affecting Jersey from a health, political, business and community perspective - bringing islanders updates online, all the time.

But, in case you missed anything, here’s a handy round-up of the main events this week (23 – 27 March) at a glance with links to the full reports included... 

Health 

• Confirmed covid-19 cases rose from 16 on Monday (23 March) to 52 on Friday (27 March);
• This week began with all islanders being instructed to practice social distancing as the standard distance to be kept from people you don’t live with was upped from one metre to two;
• On Wednesday (25 March) it was announced that children of critical health workers and other vulnerable children could go back to nursery and school;
• Sadly, Jersey suffered its first covid-19-related death on Thursday (26 March) as an islander in their eighties with underlying health conditions passed away after being diagnosed with the virus;
• Following a rise in cases, the Health Minister instructed all over-65s and those with underlying health conditions to self-isolate for an undisclosed period of time.

Pictured: This week has seen the health advice advance drastically as the number of confirmed cases is on the rise.

Politics

• More than 5,000 islanders and several politicians were calling for lockdown as the week began after the UK and Guernsey moved to stricter regimes;
• The States sitting on Tuesday (24 March) passed a series of emergency measures as the island stepped up its response to the virus;
• Another sitting on Friday (27 March) saw another block of emergency measures passed.

Business

• Many businesses were unhappy with the first phase of business support measures expressed their anger and desperation over the weekend, including local chef Mark Jordan;
• Charities left in the dark about how the Government support measures will help them spoke out;
• The Chamber of Commerce issued a strongly worded letter criticising the Government’s approach to announcing business support;
• Businesses had to wait until the evening of Thursday (26 March) to find out about the next phase of the Government’s support – an 80% wage subsidy for half the working population.

Pictured: A new package of support has been announced for local businesses.

Community

• A charitable meal-provider expanded its service to ensure islanders in need don’t go without during the corona virus pandemic;
• Islanders rallied around health workers on the front line by giving them free parking, early opening hours and even free hand cream;
• A local charity established a central food bank to ensure the needy have access to emergency packages;
• A PT set up a Facebook group to get isolated islanders moving;
• Over 3,000 islanders started sourcing their catch online from an 'Alternative Fish Market' to support local fishermen;
• And a philanthropist kicked off a fundraising campaign for the hospital on Thursday (26 March) with his pledge of £500,000;

In case you missed it (ICYMI)...

After doing his duty in the Second World War, 95-year-old D-Day veteran Harry Fenn issued a heartfelt plea to all islanders: “stay on the couch!”

So impactful was the plea that it went international, shared on Good Morning Britain and in the New York Post.