Tuesday 10 March 2020
The Public Health team continues to meet daily to discuss the evolving situation around novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
After reviewing epidemiological data on Tuesday 10 March 2020, the following decisions were made:
The whole of Italy has been moved from Group B to Group A - which means that anyone returning from anywhere in Italy from today (10 March 2020) should self-isolate whether or not they have any symptoms. The specific lockdown areas remain on Group A for those who have returned from them in the last 14 days.
The following countries have been added to Group B countries with effect from today (10 March 2020):
USA
Switzerland
Netherlands
For Group B countries, Public Health Services (PHS) are asking people to self-isolate ONLY IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS (fever or cough or shortness of breath), even if these are mild, and these symptoms occur within 14 days of returning from a Group B country.
Factors influencing this decision included:
- published numbers of confirmed cases in the above areas, along with
- evidence for probable community spread
- travel links to Guernsey
Public Health Services are having to make decisions about which countries we should be concerned about based on assessed levels of risk and the resilience and size of Guernsey's health infrastructure.
Anyone in Guernsey or the smaller islands who has returned home from Italy (or from any of the countries in the Group B category) in the last 14 days is asked to be vigilant for signs of cough, fever or shortness of breath. Any returning travellers who experience one or more of these symptoms during this period of time, no matter how mild, should self-isolate at home and ring the coronavirus helpline on 01481 756938 and 01481 756969.
This helpline is available everyday between the hours of 8am and 10pm.
Self-isolation guidance and further information can be found at: www.gov.gg/coronavirus
The guidance for travellers returning is now as follows:
Group A: Self -Isolation for all returning travellers irrespective of whether they have symptoms or not:
PHS are recommending that any individual should self-isolate, irrespective of symptoms if they have returned from the following areas in the last 14 days:
- Mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
- Iran
- South Korea
- Costa Adeje Palace Hotel (Tenerife)
- Specific lockdown areas designated by the government of Italy.
- The whole of Italy - (returning since 10 March 2020)
If you experience symptoms (fever, cough or shortness of breath, no matter how mild) and have returned from the above countries in the last 14 days, then contact the coronavirus helpline on 01481 756938 and 01481 756969, or, if you are feeling very unwell, phone 999 telling the operator of your symptoms and travel history.
Group B: Travellers from other specified countries who have symptoms, even if these are mild:
PHS have updated the guidance as of the 10 March 2020, taking into account the evolving situation globally.
PHS has issued this additional advice for returning travellers from the following countries:
- Thailand
- Japan
- Hong Kong
- Taiwan,
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Macau
- Vietnam
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Indonesia
- France
- Egypt
- Tenerife (returning since 17 February 2020)
- Germany (returning since 2 March 2020)
- Mainland Spain (returning since 2 March 2020)
- USA (returning since 10 March 2020)
- Switzerland (returning since 10 March 2020)
- Netherlands (returning since 10 March 2020)
If you experience symptoms (fever, cough or shortness of breath, no matter how mild) and have returned from the above countries in the last 14 days, then stay indoors and call the coronavirus helpline on 01481 756938 and 01481 756969, or, if you are feeling very unwell, phone 999 telling the operator of your symptoms and travel history.
Self-Isolation is the act of separating yourself from physical contact with the rest of the community for a specified period of time.
Further information on self-isolation can be found on www.gov.gg/coronavirus
