Guidance about accessing the financial support available to people from the States' £5m hardship fund has been published, external.

The States said people of working age who need help as a "direct result of coronavirus" are eligible if:

• They have been made redundant
• They are in employment or self-employment, but have severely reduced household income
• They are unable to work because they are sick, in self-isolation, their place of work is closed or they are caring for a dependent child (and they are unable to work from home)

Anyone who requires support can call 01481 732516 or email hardshipfund@gov.gg, external to apply for help.

The phone line is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:00.

Guernsey Electricity has assured islanders all "essential services are being maintained" and the company is "prioritising" the island's electricity supply during the current crisis.

The announcement follows the temporary closure of the Hougue Jehannet to through traffic to help secure "critical" infrastructure.

The company also announced it has moved into a new phase of its business contingency plan in line with States of Guernsey advice, including closing its shop, office and reception.

CEO Alan Bates said: "Key to maintaining the supply of electricity and services to the island is putting in place the appropriate mitigations and I can assure our customers that all possible measures are now in place."

Guernsey Electricity has released details of changes to its services:

• Emergencies are still reported to 0800 587 0285 or 01481 200700, as per the normal procedure
• Home visits may still go ahead, after an additional risk assessment has been carried out to ensure the safety of both the customer and electrician
• Pay as you go and top up customers who are unable to put money on their meter are advised to ask a friend or relative to help them to do so. If this is not possible they can can contact 01481 241990 or customer.accounts@guernseyelectricity.gg
• General inquiries can be emailed to customer.accounts@guernseyelectricity.gg or by phone to 01481 200700 between 08:30-17:00, Monday to Friday.
• Urgent replacement to appliances can be emailed to shop@electricity.gg

Work to convert the Day Patient Unit at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital into an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been completed in two weeks.

The move means a big increase in ICU beds and is "a major step in readying the hospital for potential COVID-19 patients".

The States has filmed a tour with Medical Director Dr Peter Rabey...

He says: "This unit can take up to 15 patients and this is in addition to our existing Intensive Care Unit, which will continue to run but not for patients with Covid because we are still going to get other people who need intensive care services.

"We're fortunate in Guernsey, we started with more intensive care beds than the UK per head of population so we had about double the number of intensive care beds before we started compared to England and that's because we can't easily transfer patients."

Dr Rabey said the island was "already in a good position for ventilators" but would of course be trying to get more.

The States of Guernsey has advice on best practice, external for protecting yourself and those you live with on their website. The basic principles are:

Stay at home

Do not leave home, except for getting medical care when instructed.

Separate yourself from those you live with

Remain inside a well-ventilated room with an outside-facing window, separate from others and keep the door closed.

Wear a face-mask when it is necessary to leave your room

Use a separate bathroom, if available, which is regularly cleaned.

If using a separate bathroom is not possible:

• Set up a bathroom rota for washing or bathing, with the isolated person going last and thoroughly cleaning the bathroom themselves if they are able to do so
• You must use separate towels from the rest of the household

Avoid using the a kitchen when others are inside it, take your meals back to your room to eat and use a dishwasher to clean what you have used if available.

Avoid sharing household items

You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding.

Laundry, bedding and towels should be placed in a plastic bag and washed once the tests for COVID-19 are negative.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

All medical visits should be agreed in advance of arrival.

Practice good hygiene

• Regular handwashing with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues, place it in a plastic bag and wash your hands immediately afterwards

Monitor your symptoms

Seek prompt medical attention if your symptoms worsen, for example, if you have difficulty breathing.

If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, inform the operator you are being tested for coronavirus.

Do not have visitors

You should only allow those who live in your home to stay.

If you think there is an urgent need to have someone visit, discuss it with infection control first.

In emergencies, speak with someone over the phone or video call first.

Use your phone or other technology to keep in touch with family and friends.

There are three main scenarios where islanders should self-isolate, according to the States, external:

• If you have returned to the Bailiwick since 19 March you are required to self-isolate by law for two weeks, external
• If you have recently developed flu like symptoms (cough, sore throat, running or blocked nose, muscle pains, fatigue or a fever) until 48 hours after they disappear
• If you are over 65 or you have an underlying health condition

Since passing tighter restrictions on movement around the island, the States of Guernsey has asked people to "stay at home" and practice social distancing when it is necessary, external to leave the house.

But what exactly does this mean?

The key pieces of advice are:

• Maintain physical distance between yourself and others, at least 2m (6ft)
• You can still go out for a walk or exercise outdoors for up to two ours, but avoid non-essential close contact with people you do not live with
• Stay in contact with friends or family using technology if you can, either video conferencing software or normal phone calls

The States of Guernsey has told islanders to "stay at home" until at least midnight on 7 April, except for four reasons:

• Shopping for basic necessities - for example food and medicine - as infrequently as possible
• Up to two hours exercise a day, including walking, cycling, running, sea swimming or other open sea activities alone or with members of your household. Open sea activities can be done with one other person for safety purpose, provided social distancing advice is followed
• Any medical need, if instructed to do so by a healthcare worker or required to do so having called 999, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

The move comes after Guernsey's Public Health's guidance to avoid all "non-essential journeys" during the current coronavirus outbreak.

From Saturday the Sunday timetable will operate on both weekend days.

While from Monday the Saturday schedule will run on weekdays.

The Saturday (now weekday) and Sunday (now weekend) schedules can be viewed online, external.

Cash payments have already been halted.

The service will be reviewed as the situation changes.

A Traffic and Highway Services spokesman said they wanted to thank bus operator CT Plus and its staff for their work on behalf of the community and the public for their understanding.

Condor Ferries has said it will be suspending all passenger ferries until 30 April, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ferry-operator had previously cancelled services between 23 March and 2 April, but said the "unprecedented global crisis" had forced them to extend this.

Paul Luxon, Condor’s chief executive said: "We have to react to the changing circumstances and government-imposed constraints on travel, which has sadly but inevitably led us to this course of action.

"We remain absolutely committed to restarting services as soon as we can."

The company's freight services continue to serve the Channel Islands.

So far 447 people have been tested with 34 positive, 352 returning negative results and 61 awaiting results.

The positive results were infected in the UK, France, Tenerife, Mainland Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Jersey and Guernsey.

Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Heath said: "There are now at least three people who have acquired their infection in Guernsey.

"Of those, one has no links to other known cases.

"The next 7 days will be critical as we determine if the cases introduced to Guernsey have resulted in secondary cases that have affected the more vulnerable in our community."

The health services are continuing contact tracing for the identified cases with at least two cases found in recent days being found through this process.

There are now about 1,000 islanders in compulsory self-isolation, which is equal to about 1.5% of the population.

Guernsey and Jersey would "help each other out" if one island is able to start testing locally before the other, says Jersey's chief minister.

Senator John Le Fondre said: "Whoever gets the kit first I'm sure we while work together in the best interests of all Channel Islanders.

"Certainly from our perspective I'm sure we'd be willing to assist Guernsey if it was needed and my understanding is Guernsey would be willing to assist us in all of ours hour of need."

He said on-island testing was "still a few weeks away".

Following the first coronavirus related death in Jersey, President of the Policy and Resources Committee Gavin St Pier said it just a matter of time before it happens in Guernsey as well.

Deputy St Pier's comments also follow a rise of seven positive cases in Guernsey, taking the overall total to 30, external, with 441 negative cases and 95 waiting for results.

Deputy St Pier said the death in Jersey served as a reminder of why self-isolating is so important.

"Keep in mind what the objective is... it is about minimising contact between households and people should get into that mindset."

"That's your starting point - 'is this going to put me in contact with somebody else?' and 'is that contact strictly necessary?'," he added.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Litres of alcohol are sitting untouched in Guernsey as a result of pubs and restaurants closing, says a local brewery.

James Mellor, managing director of Rocquettes Cider, described it as a "surreal" time for the industry.

"At this time of year we would usually be kegging cider 5,000 litres a week to go out to pubs, hotels and restaurants.

"We've got 150,000 litres of cider sitting in the tanks, and if we can't put that cider out now, or over the course of the summer, we'll be watching apples drop to the ground," he said.

Mr Mellor said the company was now relying on orders from food retailers.

"We're trying to keep the show on the road, and we're doing what we can."

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Marc Winn has been self-isolating voluntarily for two weeks with his family in Guernsey.

He said it was "a strange duality" they were living in.

"We just wanted to take ourselves out of the system so that if there was a tiny percentage chance of us spreading it to older members of the community, we weren't going to be the ones contributing to that."

His top tips for self-isolation include:

• Avoid getting fixed on "end dates", and start by "finding fun in the daily process"
• Pick up the phone - kindness is the "number one way to get out a funk"
• Practice breathing techniques to help with emotions and anxiety

Guernsey Police have reassured islanders time limits will not apply to legally parked vehicles.

A spokesman said "disc parking zones are all temporarily suspended" while the island-wide stay at home instruction is in place.

He said cars must be legally parked – so not on yellow lines or in unloading bays – but no one needed to worry about the time limits.

However, those who can leave their car at work, at home, or someone else's home are encouraged to do so to relieve pressure on parking infrastructure.

Besides public parking, Beau Sejour car park is also being made available.

The force urged islanders to take their valuables and anything else they might need from their car and to make sure it is locked.

The Control Tower Building, Airport Fire Station at Guernsey Airport and their equivalents in Alderney are now closed to the public, but do continue to function.

Guernsey Airport’s terminal is open to passengers who are taking flights to all destinations from 08:30 to 18:30.

The Harbour Office on the Cambridge Berth and the Marine Services Centre on the Albert Pier in St Peter Port are also closed to the public.

The foot passenger ferry terminal on the New Jetty is also closed as Condor Ferries are operating a ‘freight only’ service using the Commodore Clipper and Goodwill vessels.

There are no scheduled Condor high-speed ferry sailings from the UK or France and the Manche Ile Express sailings from France have been cancelled until at least 8 April.

Anyone who needs to contact the airport, harbour or make an inquiry about Guernsey's Registry of British Ships should use the below:

• Guernsey Airport - 237766. or airport@gov.gg
• Guernsey Harbours - 720229 or guernsey.harbour@gov.gg
• Registry of British Ships – Guernsey - shipsregistry@gov.gg

Guernsey's Natwest High Street branch has been closed to the public, however, the St Sampson and Cobo branches are open as normal.

A spokesman said: "We would like to reassure our customers that we are here to support them through our online, digital and telephone services."

The statement said how provision of future meeting in the "present circumstances" was currently being considered.

It said if an urgent need arised then a meeting could be "convened at short notice" adding that "flexibility is extremely important at this challenging time".