Nine covid cases in care homes

Tuesday 13 July 2021

Nine people in the island's care homes have covid, and there are five people in hospital with the virus, according to the latest Government statistics.

There are now 1,593 recorded cases of covid in Jersey.

225 new cases have been identified in the past 24 hours.

Of those, 98 were unwell and seeking healthcare, 88 were contact traced, 15 were identified during workforce screening, nine via cohort screening,13 were inbound travellers and two tested positive upon admission to healthcare settings.

1,062 people are showing symptoms and 531 people are not.

88 via contact tracing.

The number of active cases in the Island is 1,593.
1,062 cases are symptomatic and 531 cases are asymptomatic.

Total Tests
516,677 negative tests (+3,954)
5,030 confirmed positive (+225)
3,376 confirmed recovered (+31)
5 in hospital (-)
405 pending

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) July 13, 2021

During a press conference earlier today, Acting Medical Officer for Health Dr Ivan Muscat MBE declined to provide more details about the five people in hospital with the virus due to the small numbers.

However, he revealed that, since 28 June, there had been a total of 10 individuals in hospital with covid – half of those were fully vaccinated, and half were above the age of 50. He also confirmed that half of the group were admitted originally for non-covid reasons, but swabbed positive on admission.

The nine covid cases in care homes were not mentioned in the conference.

Express has asked the Government whether the cases are an outbreak in a single home or spread across multiple, what proportion of the affected individuals are fully vaccinated, how many are showing symptoms and what support, if any, is being offered to the affected home(s). 

According to the latest vaccination data for Jersey, 95% of care home residents are estimated to have had both doses of the vaccine, and 98% of carers working in care homes. 

Given the high levels of covid spread in the community, Ministers announced today that it was now being strongly advised that islanders wear masks in public settings once more and work from home if possible.

The lifting of the final covid restrictions on stand-up drinking, nightclubs and private gatherings, which was due to happen on Thursday, has also been delayed. It's now expected this won't happen until August at the earliest.