Guernsey's support services for quitting smoking and for people suffering with alcohol issues have emphasised help is still available, despite the lockdown.

Guernsey Quitline, external said it is still offering appointments by telephone, including new appointments and follow-up support.

The organisation said it will offer any advice possible, as well as access to nicotine replacement treatments by post where possible.

Anyone who wants further advice or information can call 01481 233170 or visit the service's Facebook page, external.

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink said the crisis was an "very good time" for islanders to quit smoking to protect their long-term health.

She said: “People who have smoked regularly for some time are also more likely to have higher rates of heart disease, high blood pressure and problems with their circulation and lung disease all of which are risk factors for more severe Covid-19 complications.”

The Health Improvement Commission, external also reiterated there are still helplines available for people struggling with alcohol issues during the lockdown.

• Action for Children for anyone under 25 years old - 01481 700218
• Guernsey Advisory Alcohol Service - 01481 723255
• Independence - 01481 729000

The commission has also offered advice on how to deal with stress during the crisis on its website, external.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Image source, States of Guernsey

Islanders are being urged to continue to look out for and report sighting of the invasive Asian hornet.

The first queen Asian hornet in Guernsey this year was captured on the window of a property off Damouettes Lane, St Peter Port on Saturday.

Francis Russell, project co-ordinator of the Asian Hornet Strategy, said: "We cannot emphasis enough the important role played by members of the public in reporting potential Asian hornet sightings or looking out for small nests made by the queens at this time of year.

"Our aim is to ensure that we can keep the populations of Asian hornets as low as possible, to protect public health and the Island’s biodiversity."

The States is reminding islanders to check sheds and outbuildings for possible primary nests which are round, pale brown and range between the size of a golf ball and a grapefruit.

It has laid 270 traps across the island as the species emerges from hibernation.

The Spring Queening project aims to "reduce the development of secondary nests" during the year, the States of Guernsey said.

The Regal Princess cruise ship, due to dock on the island on 17 and 29 of May has cancelled, Guernsey Harbours has announced.

This takes the total number of vessels cancelling their scheduled stop in Guernsey to 27, since the first was supposed to arrive on 20 March.

The next cruise ship currently due to arrive is the Seven Seas Explorer on 20 May.

Image source, John Eaton

The intensive care unit at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital has received a donation of 100 pairs of plastic clogs from an Alderney clothing shop.

Fran Jennings and Chris Kronwitter, who run Channel Jumper, shipped the remaining stock from their store in Alderney and a factory in Switzerland.

ICU Manager John Eaton said they were "delighted" by the "generous donation".

Mr Eaton said: "These clogs, as well as being comfortable, are easily cleaned between shifts."

The simplicity of cleaning means the clogs can be used by multiple staff and prevent them from needing to use their own shoes, which are much more difficult to sanitise, Mr Eaton added.

Image source, John Eaton

The States has released the details of the expansion of financial support schemes to more businesses and the self-employed.

The Coronavirus Payroll Co-funding scheme now extends to self-employed people, including those working though a company and sole traders.

Self-employed business owners who take their income from their company or sole traders with payroll set up will still be able to claim, the States added.

In addition to expanding help to cover self-employed, access to both the Small Business Grants Scheme and the payroll scheme has been widened to include the following sectors:

• Cleaning services
• Window cleaning
• Gardening
• Pet care services
• Waste services (particularly those focused on commercial and building work)
• Estate agents
• Architects and building design services
• Facilities management and office management
• Security and cash transfer activities
• Freight and goods transfer (excluding food)
• Dental and dental hygienists
• Non-essential personal health and hygiene roles

Charities and not for profit organisations are also eligible for support from the payroll where their staff are unable to work as a result of current business restrictions, the States said.

Support will be backdated to 16 March to match up with the support already issued to businesses who were eligible earlier.

Vice President of the Policy and Resources Committee Deputy Lyndon Trott said the move was to "plug the gap" and "bring equity" to financial assistance.

Deputy Trott said: "Self-employed islanders and sole traders play a vital role in our community and for our economy.

"‘We will continue to monitor the impact of the measures we have introduced, and the feedback on them from the business community, and will carry on responding as needed to ensure our economy is as supported as it reasonably can be during these very challenging times."

The full detail of the various programmes available has been posted on the States website, external.

The members of the States of Guernsey paid tribute to the dedication of front-line workers and the response of the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

At the end of the first remote meeting of the assembly, Deputy Bailiff Richard McMahon invited members to unmute their microphones and applaud to thank "all the people who are working so hard for the community of the Bailiwick".

As well as front-line staff and the civil service he praised "the way the community has come together to respond so positively in what is... such a difficult situation".

Guernsey's general election has been postponed by a year and will now be held on 16 June 2021.

Disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic originally caused the States Assembly and Constitution Committee to propose delaying until October.

However, an amendment pushing the date back to next summer was passed by deputies earlier today.

The States has voted down an attempt to move the general election postponement to April 2021, rather than a full year delay to June.

Proposals by the States Assembly and Constitution Committee put before the States were originally to delay June's election until October of this year.

This date was subsequently amended to 16 June 2021 earlier.

The amendment by Deputy Jennifer Merrett was rejected by 22 votes to 15.

Guernsey's boat owners are being reminded "leisure boating is not considered essential activity, nor does it qualify as part of your two-hour exercise".

However, owners are encouraged to visit their vessels to ensure they are kept seaworthy, secure and well maintained during their daily exercise.

A Guernsey Harbours spokesman said: "A small minority of owners have attempted to put to sea, and have been challenged by the Guernsey Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)."

In response further guidance has been publishing saying only the following vessels can enter or leave the island's harbours:

• RoRo and LoLo Vessels serving the Bailiwick’s supply chain
• Hydrocarbon Vessels serving the Bailiwick’s supply chain
• Other cargo vessels serving the Bailiwick’s supply chain
• Inter-island Ferries
• GU registered commercial fishing vessels to engage in fishing where the catch is landed in the Bailiwick
• Vessels responding to an emergency
• Vessels engaged in law enforcement activities
• Vessels conducting a medivac
• Harbour Authority Vessels

Harbour master Captain David Barker said: "We understand at this time of year that private boat owners instinctively want to take advantage of the improving weather.

"However, it is vitally important that they heed the guidance of the LNTM [Local Notices to Mariners] and not put to sea, as this will help reduce the spread of Covid-19 in the Bailiwick.

"Clearly, I do not wish to take a heavy-handed approach, and would rather trust the good sense of our boat owners."

However, he warned: "Using legal means is a last resort, but if individuals are placing their health, and that of their families and the public at risk by ignoring these restrictions, I may have no choice. Please be sensible and stay at home."

A proposal to defer all non-coronavirus or other urgent business being considered by the States of Guernsey until September has narrowly been rejected by deputies.

Deputy Peter Roffey's amendment failed by one vote, with 20 voting against and 19 in favour.

It was placed as part of a motion to delay Guernsey's general election, which is currently due to take place in June.

No residents of Alderney or Sark have tested positive for coronavirus, President of Guernsey's Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) Heidi Soulsby said.

Deputy Soulsby announced the committee was allowing outdoor work to begin again in Sark, external, following a request from Chief Pleas, as long as the workers abide by social distancing advice.

Deputy Soulsby emphasised Sark had imposed "incredibly strict" rules on entry to the island, with anyone arriving being place in mandatory self-isolation for 14 days.

She added the policy had been approved by Public Health, with the "clear safeguard" that it would be immediately revoked if a person were to test positive.

Deputy Soulsby also announced HSC was permitting four Alderney businesses to deliver prepared food to meet local needs, following a request from the States of Alderney.

They will be permitted to operate as long as the preparation in the kitchen is done by a lone worker and the food is safely delivered to homes.

Deputy Soulsby said: "I think it's important to make it clear these are limited exemptions specific to our small islands to meet their unique needs."

Deputy Gavin St Pier, Chairman of the Civil Contingency Authority, has warned drivers against speeding on empty roads.

He said: "It may be tempting if there is an empty road, but you don't know what is around the corner in terms of families walking or bicycles, and the last thing we want is a tragedy.

"The police are taking it very seriously and so your prospect of getting caught is significantly higher."

Dr Nicola Brink, director of Public Health, said Guernsey's current position in the coronavirus pandemic has "exceeded" her expectations.

She said the island was "starting to see a flattening of the curve" and it's position was "as good as can be expected".

"We mustn't lose those gains that we have achieved", she said.

"We're not seeing our intensive care flooded, and we're not seeing concerns about ventilator capacity.

"I think it a huge credit to the population of Guernsey. We asked them to come on this journey, and they came on this journey with us."

Dr Brink said the government was attempting to balance the risk of the virus with the potential harms of lockdown, such as an increased consumption of alcohol.

The ability to control the flow of people into and out of Guernsey is a "unique strength" in the fight against coronavirus, Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority Gavin St Pier has said.

Asked about the reopening of the island, Deputy St Pier said the decision would be made with the advice of Public Health, alongside considerations of the need to restore the Guernsey's economy and the "health and wellbeing" of islanders.

He said: "What we're trying to avoid is a public health crisis becoming an economic crisis, which becomes unmanageable in itself.

"We're now juggling two crises in effect."

However, Mr St Pier argued the States was "unlikely" to relinquish control over the borders "for some time" while the pandemic was "raging in jurisdictions all around us".

Mr St Pier added: "The numbers [of arrivals] are very, very low and they are only essential people moving in and out, for very good reason."

Dr Peter Rabey, Guernsey's medical director, said an area of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital would be expanded if more beds for Covid-19 patients were required.

It follows a decision made in Jersey to build a Nightingale hospital.

Dr Rabey said an area of 24 beds could be expanded to accommodate 70 patients, and a further 10 beds could be fitted around the hospital.

He said "detailed modelling" was in place as to whether a Nightingale hospital was required.

"We know exactly how we would do it", he added.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby said the biggest challenge of building a Nightingale hospital would be staffing it.

Easing the lockdown in Guernsey will likely be based on a combination of testing, contact tracing and establishing "triggers" to reintroduce restrictions if necessary, according to director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink.

Dr Brink said their "adaptive response" would mean "slowly coming out of lockdown", while working out what criteria would lead to "putting us back in a firmer lockdown again".

She said: "Should it be a hospital based trigger? Should it be a community-based trigger?

"There's no right answer, but what we will do is design something that feels right for our local population."

Dr Brink emphasised the effectiveness of the lockdown measure so far at reducing transmission on the island.

She added Guernsey had been looking at a doubling of cases every two days before the lockdown, which has now been reduced to beyond every five days.

Guernsey would have only reported one person as having died of coronavirus, rather than eight confirmed and three presumed, if the same reporting method was use as the UK, according to the island's director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink.

The UK is predominantly reporting deaths taking place in hospitals, rather than in care homes and the wider community.

Dr Brink said: "We honestly believe we need to have a very open, transparent message for the Bailiwick.

"Not only do we count the confirmed covid [deaths], but the suspected covid [deaths] as well.

Dr Brink said she felt it was essential to have "comprehensive" reporting to know "exactly what is going on".

Guernsey's medical director Dr Peter Rabey described the island's care homes as being the "front line" of the coronavirus crisis.

In an update on the two homes "badly affected" by clusters of cases among staff and residents, one is still requiring a significant amount of support, Dr Rabey said.

He said: "When it gets into a care home, people are at risk.

"This is a vulnerable population and we have to take these extreme measures to keep it out."

Dr Rabey confirmed that affected homes were receiving the personal protective equipment they required.

He added they were expecting a delivery of surgical masks today, the piece of protective equipment the island was most lacking.

There are currently eight patients being treated for coronavirus at Guernsey's hospital, none of whom are in intensive care, Guernsey's medical director Dr Peter Rabey said.

Everyone being treated on the Princess Elizabeth Hospital's dedicated ward for Covid-19 patients is "doing well", Dr Rabey added.

He said: "The hospital reports are starting to feel a little anti-climatic and I really hope it stays like that."

The hospital has also received a shipment of four additional ventilators.

No one on the island so far has needed to go onto a ventilator for treatment.

Dr Rabey said: "We've done that preparation and we hope not to need that capacity."