The States has taken a "cautious and conservative" approach to the timings of easing lockdown restrictions, Deputy Heidi Soulsby said.

"Please bear that in mind when you see what we're proposing," the President of Heath and Social Care said.

She added: "Particularly the timings... some people think 'that's too long', but that's because we are taking a cautious approach."

Mrs Soulbsy clarified the proposed timetable "might change over time" and the final transition could be different from what is currently envisioned.

The framework of Guernsey's "phased" easing of the coronavirus lockdown has been published by the States.

Adhering to a strategy of "test, trace and quarantine" will be the backbone of the gradual reopening of social and economic activity, the framework said.

The island is in the second phase, with some businesses operating and a small "household bubble" expansion.

Public health "triggers" will control transition to new phases or rollback of restrictions, the document outlines.

Public Health Services will monitor "release" triggers to establish when to further loosen restrictions.

These triggers for moving on to phase three include:

• Stable or reducing cases of Covid-19 from unexplained community transmission
• No new clusters of infections that pose a "risk of onward transmission"
• Hospital admissions stable or decreasing
• The continued availability of local testing

These must be observed for a "rolling four-week period" from when phase two began on 25 April.

Public Health will also use "adaptive" triggers to indicate a need to reintroduce restrictions, including:

• More than 10 cases of unexplained community transmission in previous four weeks
• Identification of clusters of infection which pose a significant risk
• Evidence of significant community non-compliance with social distancing and hygiene requirements
• On-island testing being unavailable
• Hospital admissions for new cases increasing
• Other indicators showing "sub-optimal containment"

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink said their strategy of "test, contact trace, quarantine" and community co-operation was key in the transition through the phases.

Dr Brink said: "But we cannot be complacent, and it's quite possible we won't see a straight line forward through the phases and instead we'll need to move back."

Guernsey Museums has issued a list of 75 suggestions , externalfor islanders to do on the 75th anniversary of Liberation, now taking place virtually.

Among the suggestions are:

• Play Pin The Tail on the (Guernsey) Donkey
• Try cooking a wartime recipe, available on their website, external
• Write a Liberation letter to someone you're thinking of
• Listen to the "wireless", as radios were banned during the Occupation
• Put up your flags and share photos using #DecorateToLiberate

Following the discovery of a hole in the Cobo Coast Road improvement works to the seawall will begin Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services (ACLMS) said.

Excavations took place on both the landward and seaward sides of the seawall at outside the Rockmount pub to identify the cause of the hole.

The seaward work identified a gap between the foot of the wall and the bedrock, ACLMS said.

Repair will be undertaken along a 21m (69ft) section of the wall, beginning on 5 May for about three weeks.

A one-way traffic system will be in place for the duration of the work.

The works have been authorised as “essential”, given the risk to the seawall and utilities in the area.

Correct social distancing and hygiene will be maintained by all workers, with efforts made to reduce movements of vehicles and people as much as possible, ACLMS added.

BBC Radio Guernsey

A charity that helps convicted criminals in Guernsey reintegrate into society after coming out of prison has described how it has been forced to change its services in response to coronavirus.

Mary Herve, a volunteer coordinator for 'Guernsey Caring for Ex-offenders', said prisoners are now being taken straight to their accommodation, which is having a negative effect on their mental health.

"It's all a lot more stressful, you can tell that the anxiety levels of people coming out of prison are much higher than they would normally be."

Previously, Ms Herve would ease prisoners into the outside world by taking them for lunch or a coffee on their release, and help them to attend appointments.

She said the charity had created an online support group, including daily competitions, to help ex-offenders form a community under the lockdown measures.

"I think it's bringing the group together because rather than meeting once a week, we now meet once a day," she said.

BBC Radio Guernsey

Pupils in Sark were the first in the Bailiwick to return to school.

Children were allowed to attend three separate classes for two hours each, while still complying with social distancing rules.

The island has not seen any Covid-19 cases, but the population has been kept under lockdown.

The Chairman of the Board of Education in Sark, Christopher Beaumont says the reopening would give children some sense of normality.

He added a staggered approach would allow each year group to get "much closer attention" from their teachers.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Image source, Cobo

A former Guernsey resident has launched an initiative to provide hospital staff with "high quality" food while working on the frontline.

'Hospitality for Heroes' delivers more than 20,000 "restaurant-quality" meals to 11 hospitals across London during the coronavirus pandemic.

Oli Coles, who came up with the idea, said it also helped to keep the hospitality industry working under the lockdown.

He said: "I wanted to create a not-for-profit initiative that could keep London’s finest independent and furloughed chefs at work, support local suppliers, boost morale whilst ensuring our NHS heroes are well fed on a daily basis."

Mr Coles kickstarted his idea on social media by encouraging chefs to challenge one another to share a healthy, creative recipe

Some of the chefs preparing the daily meals include Sally Abe from The Harwood Arms, London’s only Michelin starred pub, and Matt Abe, chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

The entrepreneur said he hoped to expand the project outside of London, "where there is definitely a need".

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Image source, Island Global Research

More than half of 1,528 respondents from Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man say they are "struggling" during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey says.

Island Global Research found that 54% of people rated their quality of life between five and seven under lockdown measures.

Of those surveyed, 19% said they were "suffering" and rated their quality of life less than five out of 10.

Those most likely to include themselves in this group were under 65s, the self-employed or furloughed, those with children, and people who either rent privately or have a mortgage.

However, 27% of respondents said they were "thriving" under the 'Stay at Home' campaign.

Over 65s accounted for 34% of those who said they were doing well.

Gardening, learning new languages, and baking were amongst the activities respondents said they had picked up during the pandemic.

In addition 68% of people said they are helping people outside of their household.

Helplines for each island can be found below:

Jersey: 01534 445566

Guernsey: 01481 717118

Isle of Man: 01624 282262

Guernsey's Bailiff Sir Richard Collas has issued guidance for the flying of flags over the Liberation weekend.

On Friday's Victory in Europe Day the Bailiff asks islanders to display the Union flag to mark the end of World War Two in Europe.

On the Saturday and Sunday Islanders should fly the Guernsey flag to mark the Island’s 75th Liberation Day, he added.

The 75th anniversary of Liberation ceremonies will be held "virtually" to comply with lockdown rules, and the Bailiff added people should not fly flags if it would involve "breaching these essential guidelines".

The Bailiff recognised the commemorations this weekend were to remember people "who endured one of the most difficult times in our Island’s history" and those who "fought and sacrificed their lives to free them".

He said: "It comes at a time when we face our own challenges."

"We cannot pretend they are the same, the very nature of them is different, but the challenge we face now means very real hardship for some and reveals true examples of heroism in our community and for that reason I know VE Day and Liberation Day will both be especially poignant this year."

More information about the liberation weekend can be found online, external.

Members of the liberating forces due to visit Guernsey as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations have received letters of thanks from the Lieutenant Governor Sir Ian Corder.

Six veterans from Force 135 had expressed an interest at being present at the commemorative events on 9 May, however, events will now be held virtually due to public health restrictions under the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Among the veterans were Stuart Snow, a former member of the Royal Navy who now lives in Australia, and Joe Coreless, a former Royal Marine from South Wales who also saw action as a landing craft coxswain on D-Day.

The Lieutenant Governor sent each of the veterans a personal letter, enclosing a commemorative badge, to thank them on behalf of islanders for the part they played 75 years ago.

A spokesman said it would have been “particularly poignant” for them to attend and expressed sadness the “current pandemic has ruled that out”.

He added: “His Excellency has already received a reply from one of the veterans, who lives in the Wirral and served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, to pass on his thanks for the 75th anniversary badge.”