The recycling centre at La Collette in St Helier says it remains open, but islanders are being asked to only use it "if necessary".

It said the current coronavirus situation meant islanders could expect to wait at least 30 minutes, as the number of vehicles on site.

The centre is also reminding customers to stand at least 6ft (2m) apart from others, in line with social distancing guidelines, external.

Over 65s who are self-isolating must not visit the site.

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BBC News Online

Public law cases involving children will continue to be heard by the Royal Court during the coronavirus outbreak.

Counsel will be asked not to attend in person where possible, instead addressing the court via telephone or video link, it said.

Where this is not possible, hearings will take place in the Royal Court or States Chamber to ensure social distancing is maintained.

Applications for mental health reviews will continue to be heard and arrangements for applicants to remotely appear were being finalised, the court said.

Family matters will only be heard via telephone or video, and adjourned to a later date if participants are unable to do so.

In addition Employment and Discrimination Tribunal applications will continue to be processed, but all final hearings due to be heard before May will be adjourned, the court confirmed.

The Bailiff has suspended all jury trials until July as a result of the "practical difficulties" of forming a jury, the Royal Court has announced.

All trials between Thursday and 30 June have been vacated and will be rearranged for later in the year.

The court said it will consider the status of everyone remanded in custody awaiting trial, at a short hearing or bail application.

Trials at the Inferior Number of the Royal Court will go ahead, as these consist of a judge and two jurats only.

All participants in trials will be asked to observe social distancing and evidence will be given via video link "where possible".

The public gallery is closed, but journalists remain able to observe criminal cases and outcomes of all hearings will be published, they added.

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More than 100 GPs in Jersey are going to be employed directly by the States in a bid to tackle the coronavirus.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre said the "landmark agreement" with the island's private GPs would give the hospital more "resilience" to deal with seriously ill patients.

"This agreement gives Health and Community Services more capacity and more flexibility to adapt to changing needs, and puts Jersey’s healthcare system in a stronger position to tackle COVID-19."

The changes take effect from Thursday and are due to stay in place for the next four months, the chief minister said.

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This year's Battle of Flowers in Jersey, due to take place on 13 August, has been cancelled.

The chairman and board of the battle said the decision to cancel the daytime and moonlight parades was a result of "the current coronavirus situation" and its subsequent impact on organisers "to prepare and stage an event of this size".

The carnival, which sees entire floats made of flowers paraded through St Helier, has been running since 1902.

"By making this early decision it also reduces the financial implication on organisers and exhibitors in committing funds for their float materials, in particular flowers, which primarily would be shipped from overseas," a statement said.

"Only during war times has the Jersey Battle of Flowers been cancelled and while we are disappointed in having to make this decision, we believe it is the appropriate one."

Tickets for the 2020 parades can be refunded or transferred to next year's carnival, organisers said.

The patient was in their 80s, had long term underlying health conditions and was receiving end-of-life care.

They died on Wednesday in the care of Health and Community Services, the government said.

"At the latter stages of their life, the patient contracted Covid-19," said the Minister for Health and Social Services

Deputy Richard Renouf said the government was making "all efforts" to contact the person's next of kin and he offered his "condolences at this sad time".

He said the government would not be releasing further information about the patient to protect their "confidentiality".

"I would respectfully ask, at this difficult time, that people avoid speculating on social media channels.

"It is important that we disseminate only accurate information, as tragically - in future - we will have to report on more deaths," Mr Renouf added.

The bank NatWest has announced it will be closing two of its Jersey branches in light of social distancing rules.

Library Place and Bath Street branches will be closed to the public from Thursday, but Longueville and St Brelade branches will remain open.

The bank is encouraging customers to use telephone and online services during the outbreak.

A spokesperson for NatWest said: "The well-being of our customers and staff is paramount and our branch operating hours are under constant review in-line with local government recommendations."

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The Jersey charity has said it will be diverting all of its resources to provide community meals for islanders in need during the coronavirus outbreak.

'Caring Cooks', which helps young people access nutritional food, will cook and deliver food six days a week to those "most in need" across Jersey.

Meals will be freshly prepared by the charity and delivered by volunteers using "non-contact" methods, it said.

The charity added it was working with schools and the Government of Jersey to identify priority individuals and families.

Melissa Nobrega, chief executive of Caring Cooks, said: "It is very likely we will begin to see fewer people being able to access nutritious food each day, which is very worrying at a time when nutritious food is critical to the building of immunity and the fighting of the virus."

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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.

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BBC News Online

Sam Mezec, Minister for Children and Housing, has announced a list of "critical workers", external whose children will continue to be able to attend school.

Those working in health and care, emergency response, public protection, social work and residential child care were told of their "critical worker" status on Tuesday.

The list will now include food retailers, those providing in home care and personal support for the vulnerable, and people who provide "essential island infrastructure", including air and ferry links.

Minister Sam Mezec said the list would continue to be reviewed.

Only one parent needs to be a "critical worker" for the child to be eligible to go to school, said Mark Rogers, Director General of Children,Young People, Education & Skills.

However, a place is only available if parents can not find their only childcare solution.

Children of critical workers in year nine and above will not be eligible to attend school because they are old enough for their parents to find "alternative arrangements", according to Senator Mezec.

The safety of children remained a government "priority", but the public must act as "eyes and ears" for the state, he added.

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Jersey's chief minister John Le Fondre has defended the decision not to impose a 'lockdown' on the island, after it was announced Guernsey would do so from midnight on Tuesday.

In an open letter, he said current measures were "responsible, proportionate and timely for our circumstances".

All islanders have been asked to socially distance, meaning people should stand at least 6ft (2m) away from one another and stay at home as much as possible, including working from home.

On Tuesday the chief minister announced that an entire household must self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days if one member shows flu-like symptoms.

In addition emergency legislation was approved by the States, allowing the Minister for Treasury and Monetary Resources to transfer up to £400m into Jersey's Stabilisation Fund, as well as lifting restrictions on care providers including permitted bed numbers and working hours.

In his letter, John Le Fondre said: "This is a Jersey response, based on where we are currently on the infection curve – not because we have to be different to everyone else, but because our circumstances are different. We have not reached the rapid growth rates of infection that we are seeing in the UK, Italy, Spain and elsewhere.

"Nor are we the same as Guernsey, which has its own circumstances, as we have ours."

The chief minister added the Government of Jersey was in "constant contact" with Guernsey, "sharing information and experience."

On Twitter, he said he "wholeheartedly" supported the decision to 'lockdown' Guernsey.

Businesses who are offering home deliveries are being asked to submit their details online, external for a special directory called Business2Home by Sunday.

A leaflet will then be produced and delivered to all island homes.

Jersey Post is asking islanders to not open the door for deliveries until the postie has had time to step back as part of its moves to cut the spread of coronavirus, external.

It is also delaying its annual price rise.

Jersey's chief minister has praised his counter part in Guernsey for introducing a package of measures - including telling islanders to stay at home and closing non-essential shops - aimed at cutting the spread of coronavirus.

He said each island must make the right decision based on its own circumstances.

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BBC News Online

The States of Jersey has approved a range of emergency legislation in response to the coronavirus.

The approved changes include:

• Gatherings previously approved under the Unlawful Public Entertainments Act can be cancelled and amended by the Bailiff
• Up to £400m to be moved into Jersey's Stabilisation Fund
• Births, deaths, and stillbirths can be registered electronically to reduce human contact
• Medical certificates are not required for cremations
• Attorney General to issue summons rather than arresting some offenders and bringing them to court

• Witnesses to give evidence via video-link
• Police given the power to intervene and disperse events - exact size and duration of these events will be decided by the Minister for the Environment
• Restrictions lifted on care providers including bed numbers and working hours, permitting temporary ways of working during the outbreak

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Jersey's chief minister John le Fondre said: "The coronavirus cannot be stopped, but we can and are trying to slow it.

"We know that people in our close, island community will be taken before their time", he said.

Islanders could not expect an "easy ride" during the pandemic and he urged islanders to stay in contact with one another via telephone and online.

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Deputy Richard Renouf, Jersey's Minister for Health and Social Services, has said islanders should reduce their social contact by 75% each day.

It follows government advice that all islanders must socially distance , externalduring the coronavirus outbreak.

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Dr Ivan Muscat, Jersey's deputy chief medical officer, says the island's "limiting factor" will be how many test kits can be made available by manufacturers.

Dr Muscat said when tests arrived, 16 individuals per day could be tested.

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All household members must self-isolate if one person in the home shows flu-like symptoms, says Jersey's Chief Minister John Le Fondre.

Anyone with a new, continuous cough, or a fever, accompanied by headache, tiredness, muscle ache, sore throat, and a blocked or runny nose has already been advised to self-isolate.

Individuals can move freely within the household, but the household must isolate together for a minimum of 14 days until all members are symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

The chief minister said the coronavirus is the "biggest threat to our island for generations".

Enforcement of these measure under law will take effect from Friday.

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Dr Ivan Muscat, deputy chief medical officer, says it will take two weeks to see any effects of social distancing.

The Government of Jersey has advised islanders to stand 6ft (2m) away, external from other people.