Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society has employed 50 new staff members across Jersey and Guernsey to cope with the effects of coronavirus.

The staff will help the supermarket chain deal with demand and also cover absences.

Mark Cox, chief executive of the Channel Islands Co-op, said it was limiting the number of people who could be in a store at one time, as well as installing plastic screens at checkouts.

He added staff were working "tremendously hard" to keep food on the shelves.

Guernsey Police are reminding islanders the 999 service is for emergencies only.

They are not the only police force to be reporting non-emergency calls with West Mercia Police receiving several including a 'cancelled hair appointment'.

Visitors or returning islanders to Alderney will have to produce proof of addresses at the border, with stricter travel measures set to be introduced later this week.

Politicians are seeking to introduce travel permits for all movements in and out of the island, whilst refining travel movements for all people coming in or leaving the island.

James Dent, the Head of Policy and Finance, said: "Hopefully nobody would be left behind who needs to come in and indeed, as long as they can provide us with evidence of the place they will be self-isolating, I would have thought there should be no problem.

"But they must, when they come, have good self-isolating facilities to come to."

St John Ambulance Guernsey is working with Carers Guernsey to launch a phone scheme for islanders who are feeling lonely during the coronavirus pandemic.

"We know some people are finding the current situation a challenge, especially those who have been told to self-isolate or advised or chosen to stay at home to help protect themselves or the wider community," said Nikki Harrison, chief operating officer for St John Ambulance Guernsey.

She said: “Not everyone has friend or family that can call upon and not everyone is on social media, so our Caring Callers will be there to be a friend over the phone.

"Just because someone is staying at home doesn’t mean they should be completely cut off from society."

Anyone who wants to set up a call can do so by ringing 720088 or emailing caring.caller@stjohn.gg, external.

Sark Chief Pleas says besides two hours of exercise every day only essential workers should leave their homes as it enforces Bailiwick-wide rules to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

In a statement the island's government, external says it is working with businesses to draw up a list of essential workers, who will then be contacted.

The island will have no rubbish collections for two weeks and all non-essential services will stop.

The last passenger sailing is on Wednesday with boats only carrying cargo after that unless in the case of medical emergencies and essential appointments as approved by the Doctor.

Private boat trips to the other islands are banned as are private boats visiting the island.

Non-essential shops and community spaces will close and public gatherings will be banned.

Kerbside recycling and rubbish collections will continue during the latest measures to cut the spread of coronavirus.

Those who have the potential symptoms of coronavirus - cough, fever, or shortness of breath - have the following advice from Public Health:

"All waste that has been in contact with the individual, including used tissues, should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied.

"Do not dispose of it or put it out for collection until you know that you or the person you are caring for does not have novel coronavirus, or until you have been in self-isolation for 14 days, symptom-free.

"Should you or a member of your household test positive, you will be instructed what to do with the waste."

His message to the community is to follow the advice, but also to support each other - "We must stay together even when we are apart".

Vulnerable children and those of "critical workers" will still be able to go to school during the two-week lockdown period, the States said.

A full list of who is considered a critical worker, external has been published online.

School transport will continue to be available for those who require it and the arrangement will continue over the Easter break, a States spokesman said.

"This will ensure that our critical services can still be delivered during this period – in particular health and care workers," they said.

The government also announced children under 18 can be moved between the homes of separated parents.

The new restrictions put in place are "enforceable in law", Guernsey's most senior policeman has said.

Ruari Hardy said they had worked "incredibly hard" to ensure they had the power to make sure the rules were followed.

The offence will initially be a fine and police would "avoid" detaining people at all costs, he said.

"Bailiwick law enforcement are part of the community, we're in this with everybody in our jurisdiction.

"We have powers to enforce, and we will if we have to, because it's about keeping the whole community safe," Mr Hardy added.

Mr Hardy also said he "sincerely hoped" people would not seek to exploit or get around the rules.

"It's about not putting additional strains on law enforcement and health services. It's about working collectively as one community."

Mr Hardy added law enforcement was "in good shape" in terms of officer numbers and working well "in terms of day to day functionality".

Politicians are following their own lockdown rules as the planned continuation to last week's States meeting - due to start at 09:30 on Wednesday - has been postponed due to the new measures put in place from midnight.

President of Policy and Resources Gavin St Pier said he had decided to impose "the most far reaching deprivation of personal liberties since the Second World War", without a "moment's hesitation".

Deputy St Pier said: "If you had told me that I had I would be doing so with absolute certainty that it is the right thing to do... I would have laughed at you.

"Frankly, even during the occupation the island's residents had more personal freedom to move about the island than for the time being.

"Which illustrates the scale of the threat to the community and our willingness to take tough decisions quickly."

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink acknowledged the "extensive measures" meant Guernsey was "acting earlier" than other places, with only one case of community transmission.

However, Dr Brink said they were acting swiftly in order to try to limit further spread and protect the island's only hospital "from becoming overwhelmed".

Dr Brink said: "This is designing something that's appropriate for our community.

"We've gone earlier than other jurisdictions, but we feel it's the right decision for us."

Rumours there has been a coronavirus outbreak at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, or any related deaths, have been dismissed by the President of the Policy and Resources committee Gavin St Pier.

"I would advise strongly against listening to or spreading such rumours," Depury St Pier added.

The introduction of lockdown measures are "not because of what the UK did yesterday", the President of the Health and Social Care Committee Heidi Soulsby said.

Deputy Soulsby said they were taking a "cautious approach" and were "guided by advice" from Public Health.

"Doing the right thing, at the right time, taking into account we're a small community with only one hospital and without the infrastructure of a larger jurisdiction," she added.

All public gatherings of more than two people have also been banned.

This is in order to make sure people are staying at home and apart from each other, the States said.

Only two exceptions to this rule will be permitted:

• If the gathering is a group of people who live together - for example parents can take children to the shops if there is no way to leave them at home
• If it is "essential for work purposes", however, businesses and workers should be trying to minimise meetings and other gatherings

Social events, including weddings, baptisms and other religious ceremonies are also banned.

However, funerals are excluded but only immediate family can attend.

The States has ordered the immediate closure of the following businesses:

• Pubs
• Clubs
• Cinemas
• Restaurants and cafes
• All non-essential retail stores, not including food and pharmacy goods
• Libraries
• Community centres
• Youth centres
• Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, such as soft play facilities and outdoor play areas
• Communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms
• Places of worship
• Hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels and campsites
• Boarding houses for commercial/leisure use (excluding permanent residents and key workers)