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Jersey is now in the global top 40 of nations worst-affected by covid.
According to data that was released yesterday afternoon by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and analysed by Express, the island ranks as having the 37th worst 14-day rate in the world, per 100,000 population.
The figure – 417.46 at the time – set it ahead of the UK (318.98) and France (230.44), but behind the US (757.944), Portugal (609.83) and Poland (555.13).
However, the island’s rank - which does not take into account its testing rates, which remain among the best in the world - may have worsened after a further 96 cases were discovered yesterday.
The number of active cases in the Island is 516.
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 6, 2020
319 cases are symptomatic and 197 cases are asymptomatic. 17 are in hospital (+1).
Announced last night, they brought the total number of cases to 516 and the number of direct contacts of known cases to more than 3,600.
While Friday was supposed to see the Chief Minister and Health Minister announce a plan for Christmas ‘bubbles’, no such media briefing ended up taking place.
It’s now expected an announcement of further measures will be made today after the Council of Ministers meet this morning at 09:00 to discuss the latest scientific and technical advice.
It comes as the rapid surge in positive cases has left the Contact Tracing Team struggling to keep up.
Express understands there is a backlog stretching back around five days, and that some individuals who have been officially informed they are direct contacts – via app alert, email or text – have been left waiting more than 72 hours to have a test booked.
The technical issue reported yesterday, that meant Islanders would be waiting longer than usual for their COVID test results, was resolved today. The processing of swabs is fully functional again & we aim to have cleared all outstanding results & return to normal service tomorrow
— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) December 6, 2020
Difficulties intensified on Saturday when one of the on-island test processing robots meant some results took 48 hours to come back.
Officials promised last night, however, that the technical issue had been resolved, and that all outstanding results should be cleared by today.
The ever-growing web of direct contacts, and delay in getting them tested, is having a knock-on effect for workplaces whose staff are unable to work from home.
Local veterinary group New Era, for example, said yesterday that it had been forced to shut one of its practices due to another vet testing positive for the virus.
Many teachers and learning assistants have also tested positive or been deemed direct contacts of positive cases.
Grainville wrote to parents yesterday to say that it had been hit so hard by covid-related staff absences that it would be unable to accommodate its Year 7 students.
Such difficulties were one of the reasons National Education Union representative and teacher Brendan Carolan called for schools to shut early on Friday, calling the current situation “totally untenable.”
3,000 islanders have thrown their weight behind the idea by signing an online petition, to which the Education Minister, Senator Tracey Vallois, will now officially have to respond. If it gets 5,000 signatures, States Members will be asked to debate the proposal.
Yesterday’s confirmation that the number of cases had topped 500 only served to intensify calls for early closures.
Pictured: The NEU, Reform Jersey and thousands of islanders have backed calls for schools to close before the end of term.
One anonymous teacher pointed out online that anyone who is 'contact-traced' within the final week of term will have to isolate over the Christmas period.
The Education Minister said on Friday, however, that it was not her intention to order that schools shut early, citing child wellbeing concerns.
A letter from the Chair of the Government’s scientific advisory group, Acting Group Medical Director Patrick Armstrong MBE, to the Education Minister said that there was no medical reason to shut schools.
“Whilst there has been some spread of the virus to children on the island, the majority of this was from adults to children and most likely did not take place in the school environment but rather through household contact or outside of the school environment,” he pointed out.
Pictured: Anyone who tests positive for covid or is deemed a direct contact in the final week of term will be forced to isolate over Christmas, rather than engaging in festivities.
Mr Armstrong also noted that “the vast majority of other jurisdictions, particularly in Europe, which have actually gone into a second lockdown have kept schools and educational establishments open throughout.”
He also said that the “health impact of the virus on children is very low”, but that there was increasing evidence of harm being done to children who miss long periods of school.
Reform Jersey – a political party led by the former Children’s Minister, Senator Sam Mézec – nonetheless called for the Education Minister to review the current position in light of the rapidly rising covid case numbers.
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