States of Guernsey figures show 97 confirmed cases of coronavirus since testing began.

A total of 665 negative test results have been returned with 49 awaiting results.

The St John marine ambulance was sent to Sark in the early hours at the request of the island's doctor.

It was the second trip to Sark in 24 hours for the Flying Christine III after it was called out on Wednesday morning.

A paramedic-led team with a volunteer boat crew left St Peter Port harbour shortly before 01:00.

The patient was transferred to a waiting road ambulance and after further tests was taken to hospital.

Image source, St John Ambulance Guernsey

The Guernsey Raiders have been awarded promotion back up to National Two South.

The islanders were top of the London and South East Premier Division when the season was declared to be over last month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds says he's delighted his side's hard work has paid off.

About 25 jobs at Specsavers in Guernsey are at risk as the company is hit by the closure of its stores.

Guernsey's largest private employer, a loss of this many staff would be a 5% cut to the 500 people on the island who work for the global firm's headquarters.

Specsavers said they had done "everything they can" to minimise redundancies, but the coronavirus crisis was having a "significant impact" on sales and revenue.

CEO John Perkins said he was making the announcement with an "extremely heavy heart" and businesses cannot survive "long-term without customers and an income stream".

Mr Perkin said: "The circumstances we face are unprecedented and clearly require us to act in order to protect the future of Specsavers.

"However, in doing this, we have done everything we can to manage the impact in the best way possible, treating people with fairness and in the way that we would want to be treated ourselves."

The Chest and Heart Unit at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital will become the designated surgery for anyone experiencing symptoms associated with coronavirus from Friday, Guernsey's GPs have announced.

The decision to move the location of the centre to a more accessible location was made in consultation with the Committee for Health and Social Care.

The Longfrie Surgery, which has been used for this purpose, will be closed until further notice.

In a joint statement, the island's primary care practices said any islanders with symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection should phone their usual GP first.

These symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath
• Flu like symptoms

The statement said islanders with the above symptoms should not attend the Chest and Heart Unit without an appointment, which will be arranged after a phone consultation.

This applies to everyone, regardless of which GP practice they usually attend.

Patients with minor symptoms, who do not need to see a GP, should continue to follow Public Health advice and self-isolate, the statement added.

Doctors from the three GPs surgeries will be based at the Chest and Heart Unit.

Anyone who requires specific advice on coronavirus is encouraged to call the Public Health helpline on either 01481 756938 or 01481 756969.

Every time an ambulance responds to an emergency during the coronavirus pandemic its crew needs to be able to prepare properly.

Islanders that call 999 are being asked to ensure they "provide clear, correct information" so crews can ensure they have the right protection for the situation.

This will help crews stay safe and ensure the resources needed to help others in the community are available when they are needed.

Image source, Channel Seaways

A larger cargo ship, able to carry up to 1,000 tonnes more than its predecessor, has arrived to serve Guernsey, Alderney and Jersey, Channel Seaways has announced.

The 80m (260ft) MV Trinity will replace the smaller MV Valiant, which has served the islands islands for eight years.

Image source, Tom Videlo

Channel Seaways, part of the Alderney Shipping Group, said the introduction of the larger vessel at a time of "immense uncertainty" underlines their "long-term commitment" to islanders and local businesses.

They have been deemed a critical business during the pandemic, as they serve the freight routes from Poole to Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey for essential supplies, including fuel, food medical and animal feeds.

The group has been running for 50 years and is the only remaining sea passenger and freight service serving the islands that is locally run and owned.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Health officials have said it is safe for people in Guernsey to continue to attend blood donation appointments.

Paul Sutton, Laboratory Services Manager, "should not be concerned" about attending the Pathology department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

"It has a separate entrance meaning donors do not have to walk through any other patient areas of the hospital. If you are contacted and able please do attend as we still require donations."

Restrictions are in place for people who are self-isolating or have any respiratory symptoms. They will be identified during 'first contact' phone calls from hospital workers and will not be able to donate blood.

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BBC News Online

A female patient has been transported from Sark to Guernsey by the Bailiwick's marine ambulance, after she required "further treatment" for a medical condition.

The "Flying Christine III" was launched at about 10:00 GMT from St Peter Port with paramedics and a volunteer boat crew on board, following the request by Sark's doctor.

The woman was transferred on to the boat by Sark's ambulance service and arrived in Guernsey at about 11:15 GMT.

She was moved into a waiting ambulance and taken to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Guernsey has the capacity to test up to 75 samples per day for coronavirus now on-island testing has begun, the Committee for Health and Social Care (HSC) has announced.

The establishment of on-island testing last weekend means 40 of those samples will be examined in the new facility.

HSC said this figure is subject to change as more reagent, the chemicals needed to conduct the tests, becomes available the volume of tests can be increased.

The committee added the island still has access to 35 tests per day at a UK laboratory.

Initially testing was limited to those returning from an affected area who showed symptoms of coronavirus, the committee said.

Testing will be expanded to four groups of patients:

• Up to 30 people at the Longfrie Surgery with symptoms associated with Covid-19, which has been designated the GP surgery to attend for symptomatic people
• All patients admitted to the hospital or the Emergency Department with respiratory symptoms
• Any other person in the community, for example in a residential and nursing home, where a GP is concerned about possible infection
• Other urgent requests, such as to release emergency crew members who are contacts of suspected cases

Public Health Services will continue testing returnees displaying symptoms, as well as those identified as symptomatic contacts of a confirmed case of the virus.

These tests are carried out at a drive-through testing facility at the harbour.

Anyone who is confirmed as being positive for the virus is subject to a Compulsory Self-Isolation Order and they, and anyone else in their households, are required to stay at home and self-isolate, HSC said.

The individual with the positive diagnosis must stay away from other household members.

Public Health will provide more detailed guidance to those affected at the time the positive case is confirmed.

Family members will also be tested if they develop symptoms.

Positive cases will be re-tested either on day 14 or 48 hours after their symptoms have completely resolved.

If the test is negative then the person and their household is released from the order.

However, they continue to be to be subject to same lockdown rules as the rest of the island.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Schools and colleges in Guernsey will remain open for the children of essential workers during the Easter holidays.

The provisions will also include pre-schools, nurseries, childminders and SEND schools, the States of Guernsey confirmed.

Children will be looked after by teachers who have volunteered their time.

Support for vulnerable children is being developed by schools and the States' Health and Social Care department, it said.

Guernsey's College of Further Education will also be working with parents of students with special educational needs to offer support during the outbreak.

Any essential worker whose normal early years provider is unable to accommodate their childcare needs for Easter should contact the States Early Years Team at seyt@gov.gg or 07839 103505.

Ed Ashton, Director of Operations for Education, said the response from school staff was "simply fantastic".

"The impact this could have on their fellow essential workers, who may otherwise have had to stay away from work during the Easter break, is huge and I thank them for their continued commitment during these challenging times."

People in Guernsey who are taking their daily exercise should keep driving to "a minimum".

President of the Policy and Resources Committee Gavin St Pier said islanders should "exercise judgement" and use "common sense".

Deputy St Pier said: "If you want to drive to take a walk, go somewhere that's close.

"You don't have to go to the other side of the island to do it."

Image source, Getty Images

President of the Committee for Health and Social Care Heidi Soulsby added they didn't want people "going for a drive round the island".

Deputy Soulsby added the purpose of the two hours was for people "confined in their homes all day" to get some exercise.

She acknowledged there was a difference between Guernsey and the UK, which has been actively discouraging people from driving to exercise to prevent the virus spreading from urban to rural areas.

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink also stressed people should "minimise" any journey they take.

Dr Brink said: "Every time you're on the road... you've got the chance, heaven forbid, of having an accident.

"You have to put petrol in your car. So you go to the petrol station.

"Use your two hours... but look at what you can do close to your home, so minimising any contact with anyone."

President of the Policy and Resources Committee Gavin St Pier has issued an appeal for questions from islanders to be answered by the States on Friday.

Questions can be emailed to covid19enquries@gov.gg , externalwith the subject heading 'My coronavirus question'.

Deputy St Pier said they would collate the most frequently asked questions and address them at their next scheduled press conference on Friday.

"We probably won't be able to do them all, but we'll try to deal with some," he added.

The rise of 31 more confirmed cases since Monday for a total of 91 in Guernsey is "largely" down to the States approach of looking for cases, said Dr Nicola Brink.

The island's Director of Public Health said: "That's largely to do with us proactively looking for cases in the nursing and residential homes.

"So we haven't just gone looking for symptomatic cases, we've actually been doing widespread screening in that setting and I think that's really important.

"It forms part of our proactive approach and we've always said we wanted to have a very proactive approach and i think that's so important under these circumstances."

Dr Brink said the number of people awaiting results - currently 38 - was part of moves to "get a good handle on what is going on".

She said: "It reflects our change in strategy that we have a much lower threshold for referring people for testing.

"Any contacts of known cases - even if they have the slightest symptom - we refer them for testing."

With on-island testing results can be turned around in 24 hours.

The States of Guernsey has launched an online community monitoring system, external to track people who are self-isolating, chief executive Paul Whitfield said.

The online form will be used to gather "essential" data about the population during the coronavirus crisis, in order to improve the information and support the government are distributing.

People who sign up will fill in basic information about their situation and agree to be contacted by email or phone every two weeks checking on any changes to their circumstances.

In particularly the States is keen to get a better understanding of the numbers of people who are self-isolating and those who still able to work, Mr Whitfield said.

He reassured islanders the tool had been built using existing technology and a "trusted IT partner" to protect personal data.

"We would really encourage you, because this would support [Public Health] and all of the services that are trying to assist the community."

Image source, States of Guernsey

There is "little evidence" to unequivocally say cloth masks help prevent coronavirus, Guernsey's Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink has said.

She emphasised the masks were not a replacement for social distancing, proper hygiene and self-isolation for symptomatic people.

Dr Brink said: "The advice from us is clear - if you're symptomatic stay out of the community.

"You're putting other people at risk."

Dr Brink also stressed the masks must be used properly to be effective, or people might put themselves at greater risk of transmission.

They need to be changed every two hours and then cleaned with detergent in a washing machine, tumble dried and ironed.

"But if it makes someone feel better, as long as it's used appropriately, then it might provide a little extra protection," she added.

States Medical Director Dr Peter Rabey provided an update on the care home that has been affected by a coronavirus cluster.

Three cases were identified at the home over the weekend and a further 13 residents and 11 staff have since tested positive for the virus.

The facility has been the "focus of the action over the last few days", Dr Rabey said.

He added the facility was in a "difficult position" with the numbers of staff and residents affected by the virus and they were doing everything possible to support them.

Help is being provided by community nurses providing support to the home, as well as volunteers form St John Ambulance.

"We're an island, we're all in this together," Dr Rabey said.

Only one person is currently being treated at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital for coronavirus, said Dr Peter Rabey.

The States Medical Director said all other Covid-19 patients had been discharged.

Speaking in a press conference Dr Rabey added he was "pleased" to say there were few updates on the hospital's preparations, as phase one of their preparations had been completed.

Image source, States of Guernsey

President of the Policy and Resources Committee Gavin St Pier has expressed his thanks to islanders and his political colleagues for their "unequivocal support" during the crisis.

Deputy St Pier said: "We would, of course all swap the Bailiwick's current predicament for the normalcy and rancour of yet another education debate.

"I know that day will come, perhaps all too soon."

Mr St Pier added the States would need to "rapidly find consensus" on how the government can lead over "the next few months" of crisis and recovery recovery.

"With the quickfire decisions that will be needed, whilst also maintaining the democratic oversight and accountability of the decision makers."

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Guernsey now stands at 91 - up 13 from Tuesday evening.

The figures released at 13:00 showed 620 negative test results and 38 outstanding results.

The island has one recorded coronavirus-related death.