British Airways flights between Jersey and Gatwick may not resume once the coronavirus pandemic passes, as the the airline may abandon its operation at the London airport.

A letter from BA's senior management says: "We need to ensure that our remaining operation is efficient, flexible and cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean and unpredictable industry."

The route between Jersey and Gatwick is also served by EasyJet.

Their entire fleet has been grounded in response to the pandemic.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Children and young people in Jersey are being given the opportunity to share their experiences of the coronavirus pandemic with the government.

A confidential survey will allow participants to answer questions about their family, home environment, education, and physical and mental health.

The government said it would ensure "ongoing support" could be "tailored" to meet young people's needs.

Children’s Commissioner, Deborah McMillan, said: "This is a very disruptive time and we are acutely aware that children and young people already have a lot of challenges to face and adjustments to make.

"However, if you can spare the time to fill out this simple survey, it will help us to make sure that your views are taken into account when the government makes decisions that affect your lives."

The survey can be accessed at https://survey.gov.je/s/Coronavirus_survey/, external and will close on 8 May.

Parents and carers can help children fill out the survey depending on their age.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A series of flags have been raised at Forget Regent in Jersey to show support for healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 11 flags carry the message "Clap for Carers" and were raised at 09:00 on Thursday by Marcel Nedelec, a signal station operator who came up with the idea.

They will be raised on a weekly basis and lowered at 09:00 every Friday.

Support for healthcare workers will also be shown by the firing of a cannon from Elizabeth Castle at 20:00 on Thursdays.

Image source, Government of Jersey

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

More than 100 items of medical equipment have been delivered to Jersey's General Hospital to help coronavirus patients suffering from breathing difficulties.

Jersey’s Health and Community Services said it now has the capacity to ventilate up to 39 patients and to deliver ‘CPAP’ oxygen support to a further 40 patients.

'CPAP' machines work by delivering a constant stream of oxygen via a facemask.

The items arrived in the island on Saturday and were transported from Portsmouth by the Ministry of Defence.

The Government of Jersey said it was taking part in weekly meetings with the UK's Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to review the island's equipment needs, which will allow Jersey to borrow additional equipment if required.

Deputy Richard Renouf, Minister for Health and Social Services, said the meetings would ensure the government "can continue delivering high quality healthcare".

The CI Travel Group is offering full refunds to people who were due to visit Jersey or Guernsey this year.

The travel company brings about 40,000 visitors to the islands each year.

Managing director Robert Mackenzie said: "We hope this reassurance means that our clients will come back to book with us again, in their own time, when consumer confidence returns."

The group said it was working through its bookings in date order to contact customers.

Condor has cancelled all passenger ferries to the Channel Islands until 21 May.

It said it was due to "ongoing government advice restricting the movement of people to and from the Channel Islands, France and the UK".

The Liberation and the Rapide were the remaining passenger boats in action after Condor switched its Clipper ferry to a freight-only service in March.

The company said anyone affected could either re-book or would be offered a travel voucher.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

There has been a 50% increase in the number of welfare calls to the States of Jersey Police in the last two weeks.

The force said it raised concerns about the state of islanders' mental health during the lockdown.

Det Supt Stewart Gull, vice chairman of the Safeguarding Board, said: "Tackling the pandemic and preventing its further spread is vital, but such measures do not mean there should be a collapse in social contact.

"The impact of isolation and loneliness should not be under-estimated, especially for those in a vulnerable situation."

He urged islanders to call the following numbers if they had not seen or heard from a vulnerable person in 24 hours.

• Adult Safeguarding - 01534 444440
• Mental Health CommunityTeam 01534 443250
• In an emergency - 999

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

A total of 618 people from Jersey were deported to Bad Wurzach during the German Occupation in World War Two.

Internees were incarcerated inside the town's castle with limited food supplies and washing facilities.

Local people from the German town will lay flowers on the graves of 12 islanders who died there to commemorate the anniversary of its Liberation on 28 April 1945.

A partnership between St Helier and Bad Wurzach was formed in 2002 to reconcile the towns.

Former internees of the camp had intended to visit the town this year, but the trip was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Some thought this was to have been their last opportunity to revisit the camp.

Simon Crowcroft, the Constable of St Helier, says he hopes they will have another chance to visit the town next year.

"One of the overriding stories that came out of the incarceration was the kindness they received from the inhabitants of Bad Wurzach.

"These were villagers who suffered in some ways alongside the Allied prisoners, and that's one of the reasons for the visits and the twinning, because there's a real sense of gratitude from the people who were interned, to the community that had supported them as best they could."

Image source, States of Jersey Police

A man has been jailed for two years after he caused £11,000 worth of damage to Jersey's Royal Court building.

Gage Saville, 25, broke into the court building in St Helier at about 01:00 GMT on 24 December 2019.

He broke several windows and damaged furniture, the States of Jersey Police said.

Saville was apprehended by officers on the first floor of the building.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Workers responsible for rebuilding Jersey's airport are helping to construct the island's Nightingale hospital.

Work on the airport has been temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Ports of Jersey team are helping to co-ordinate the hospital's construction, along with main contractors J3, by sourcing equipment and managing its budget.

Other staff members including the airport's firefighters have found new roles as ambulance drivers.

Steve Tanner, projects manager for the Ports of Jersey, said: "It is amazing to see so many of our colleagues, with their vast experience and skills, volunteering to support other vital services across the Island. We are incredibly proud of everything they are doing at this time."

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The Government of Jersey is reminding islanders to access alcohol and drug support services during the lockdown if required.

It said the closure of pubs may result in people drinking more at home.

Laura Hunter, manager of the government's Alcohol Team, said: "We are aware that social isolation could increase the use of alcohol as a coping mechanism when difficult emotions arise.

"It is important to recognise that alcohol can increase feelings of anxiety and depression and should not be used as a way to cope."

"We recommend drinking a maximum of 14 units a week and having alcohol-free days to avoid developing problems and to seek other forms of relaxation and wellbeing."

Islanders who are concerned about substance misuse can call their GP or the Alcohol and Drug Services on 01534 445000.

Jersey must "ease" its way out of lockdown in a "responsible and careful manner", said Chief Minister John Le Fondre.

Senator Le Fondre said the government needed to take a cautious approach to easing restrictions in case the virus were to "sweep through" the community.

He said: "That is this ongoing balancing act that we've been having to maintain all the way through."

Mr Le Fondre added Jersey was in a good position on the basis of current infection numbers, but cautioned the crisis was "fast-moving".

"You're not operating in perfect data, you're not operating with perfect information and that's why we're being cautious."

"If you get it wrong there can be consequences."

"We didn't go as far as other jurisdictions in the lockdown measures initially," Jersey's chief minister has said.

Senator John Le Fondre said the government had taken the decision not to close down businesses that could socially distance and work, following advice from medical professionals.

He said health professionals were "keen" for these businesses, such as window cleaners and takeaways, to continue to operate.

"Some jurisdictions first stage of release is coming to where we are now, where we've always been.

"It's almost certain that not every business will be okay as a result of the crisis as we've been through," he added.

The initial phase of antibody testing in Jersey will be rolled out to about 1,500 people, Chief Minister John Le Fondre announced.

Five hundred households are to be tested to "inform" the island's testing strategy, as well as to give an early indication of whar the "spread looks like in the community", Senator Le Fondre said.

He added it was "too soon" to say if these tests would enable people who have already recovered from the virus to "return to the community".

Mr Le Fondre said: "That is the hope, but I can't confirm that today."

A total of seven people have died from coronavirus in the island's care homes, the Government of Jersey has announced.

There have been a total of 19 deaths in the island linked to the virus.

Of these deaths, 10 were confirmed as Covid-19 deaths through laboratory testing, and nine were presumptive coronavirus deaths.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre said 11 people had died in hospital settings - nine in the General Hospital, and two in St Saviour's Hospital.

One person died in their own home, Senator Le Fondre said.

A new statistical breakdown of coronavirus deaths in Jersey has been released by the government.

The government will publish:

• The total number of Covid-19 deaths
• Laboratory-proven deaths
• Presumptive deaths, where there is no laboratory result or a negative result, but cause of death is certified as "probable" based on clinical history, examination, and investigation
• The amount of deaths in hospital, care homes and domestic properties
• The demographic split by age and sex

Further statistics will be released from Thursday:

• Deaths registered in the last seven days
• Percentage of these deaths from Covid-19
• Deaths registered in the last seven days for the same period in 2019 and 2018
• Total deaths registered in the last 28 days
• Percentage of total deaths registered in the last four weeks from Covid-19
• Total deaths registered in the last 28 days for the same period in 2019 and 2018
• Deaths registered in the year-to-date, as well as the equivalent figure from 2019 and 2018

All 19 people in Jersey who have died after contracting coronavirus were over the age of 60, according to new data published by the government.

The rough demographic breakdown of the deaths is 11% aged between 60 and 69, 37% between 70 and 79, 32% between 80 and 89 and 21% above 90 years old.

Men account for 63% of Covid-19 deaths and women just 37%.

Details of Jersey's strategy for exiting its lockdown will be issued by the end of the week, Chief Minister John Le Fondre has announced.

Senator Le Fondre said the Government of Jersey's decisions would "always be guided by the expert advice" over how best to "keep islanders safe".

Mr Le Fondre acknowledged the impact of lockdown on people's "mental and physical well being".

He said: "The impact of isolation and loneliness should not be under-estimated, especially for those in a vulnerable situation.

"So please continue to support one another, and to make contact with our support services if you are concerned about friends, neighbours or family."

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Image source, Getty Images

Nearly 200 young people in Jersey have received counselling during April under the coronavirus lockdown.

The government said the number of young people looking for help had increased during the 'Stay Home' measures.

There have also been 282 interventions since 1 April relating to the safeguarding of young carers, the government said.

A campaign launched by the Department for Children and Young People is asking islanders to be the "eyes and ears" for vulnerable people in the community.

Principle Youth Officer Mark Capern said: "Our Youth Workers have been redeployed into schools, carrying out youth work on social media to engage young people, providing support calls to children and young people, and some new exciting developments around some online sessions.

"We have also been carrying out street work and visiting known areas that young people gather. While out on the streets of St Helier our youth workers have provided Covid-19 advice, while also listening to their concerns, dealing with any worries and signposting to YES when appropriate."

The YES project (Youth Enquiry Service) offers information, advice and counselling for islanders up to 25 years old.

It is free to call on 0800 7350 010 and is open from 12:00 to 20:00 BST everyday.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The Government of Jersey is asking parents not to delay their child's routine vaccinations if they are without coronavirus symptoms during the pandemic.

The Childhood Immunisation Programme said it was continuing its service to reduce the risk of avoidable diseases including whooping cough, diphtheria and measles.

Dr Adrian Noon, medical director of the Primary and Intermediate Care Group, said: "Jersey has one of the highest childhood immunisation rates across Europe and we’d like to maintain that.

"GP surgeries have put in place stringent procedures to ensure vaccinations can take place in a safe and accessible way, taking into account the social distancing measures."

Islanders should contact their GP or the Immunisation Nurse Specialist on 01534 445790 if they are unsure on which vaccinations may be outstanding.