Framework For Exiting Lockdown

This direction is designed to reduce, as far as possible, the transmission of COVID-19 within the community by reducing contact between households with the view of:

Reducing the risk of COVID-19 related mortality, and

Protecting limited health and care infrastructure most significantly intensive care capacity.

Consideration also needs to be given to minimising, as far as possible, the economic and social impacts caused by the lockdown restrictions. Therefore in the context of exiting from lockdown, the objectives are threefold:

To open up the economy as quickly and safely as possible prioritising those businesses that are not able to work remotely; and

To do so in a way which contains the virus to the extent necessary to protect the limited health and care infrastructure thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 mortality and the longer term impacts on those infected;

To ensure that any steps taken to achieve the above are evidence-based and proportionate to the risks posed.

Guiding principles

Since entering lockdown, the Civil Contingencies Authority has been clear that the restrictions will only be in place for as long as they are necessary and that the clear aim is to make this as short a lockdown as possible.

It will be necessary to eliminate this outbreak of the virus locally in order to return to the Bailiwick Bubble – that is with no internal restrictions on business, social or recreational activities – following which a ‘Test, Trace and Isolate’ policy should be able to contain cases as they emerge, as was demonstrated following a small cluster in October 2020. However steps can be taken, informed by risk and evidence, to enable the phased resumption of business and social activity through a policy of suppression.

Building upon the various factors and context set out above, a number of principles for easing lockdown have been identified:

Maintaining public vigilance and awareness, encouraging individual islanders and businesses to act responsibly in the interests of the community as a whole, with a particular emphasis on ensuring all individuals displaying symptoms, however mild, stay at home;

Maintaining strict border controls, keeping current arrangements under active review;

Supporting a surveillance programme allowing for the proactive and early detection of infections and the testing of islanders when symptomatic however mild;

Adopting wherever possible clear, evidence-based principles which can be applied universally across employment sectors; and

Avoiding unless entirely necessary the use of authorisations for individual businesses or derogations for other islands.

These principles have been used to amend the Exit from Lockdown Framework that was used in 2020, learning lessons in respect of the practical administration of restrictions, the clarity of communications, and reviewing the risks now presented to the Bailiwick. Having a clear plan will also enable business to put in place the arrangements needed for apartial or full resumption of activities; and for the States’ financial support for businesses to be targeted and deployed more effectively.

Easing lockdown will take place on a staged basis, increasing the number of businesses allowed to operate and the social, cultural and recreational activities as the Bailiwick’s circumstances change.

At each stage, the emphasis will be on mitigating the risk of virus transmission increasing to a level which would be unmanageable in the Bailiwick context. This means that the first steps taken will be to allow the resumption of low risk activities; that is activities which are not considered to significantly increase transmission levels. Higher risk activities would
be able to resume once those certain public health indicators that give an indication of risk in the wider community are met.

The strict lockdown requirements implemented since 23rd January
2021 have sought to curtail community seeding which could have led
to infection rates which overwhelmed the health and care system. They have also provided Public Health, and the wider States of Guernsey, with opportunity to review and adjust practices in response to a new variant of the virus.

The risk of community transmission is greatest in large, uncontrolled gatherings where social distancing, and other Public Health advice, cannot be observed. In contrast, by careful adherence to Public Health advice, it is possible for smaller gatherings to be undertaken in a way which either does not increase the risk of transmission or which does so to an extent which is considered a manageable risk in the Bailiwick context.

The proposed model is set out below:

From 00:01 on Thursday 11th February 2021, activities with minimal risk can operate. This only includes:

1. Lone workers who are not considered essential workers may also return to their place of work if:

They are the only person present on the premises; and
They have no physical contact with colleagues, customers or clients.

2. Support Bubbles

Business Sectors Operating

Essential Retail can continue operating. With effect from 11.02.21, lone workers who are not considered essential can operate if they cannot work from home and are able to work with NO other person present. If the lone working policy is not adhered to that individual will put the whole island at risk of a further outbreak and reversion to lockdown.

For those working in indoor trades, this means that lone workers may return to offices, workshops or other premises. This may make it possible, for example, for non-essential retailers to fulfill and deliver or dispatch orders received online as long as they can undertake work without any contact with other individuals, whether colleagues, customers or clients.

For those who work in outdoor trades, this means that lone workers may return to property and building maintenance,gardening and horticulture, and fishing
or other maritime trades as long as they can undertake work without any contact with other individuals, whether colleagues, customers or clients.

Changes to Full Lockdown, effective from 11th February 2021

The introduction of support bubbles

The 2020 Community Survey demonstrated that some people within the community were more likely to be detrimentally affected by the social restrictions in place during lockdown. This is further supported by the queries being received during the current lockdown. As such, from 11th February 2021 the following groups will be able to form a support bubble – effectively a support network which links 2 households. The following households would be eligible to form a support bubble:

Where there is only one adult (this includes households with one adult living alone or one adult and any children under the age of 18);

Where there is only one adult carer (this means households where this is one adult carer and anyone else living within the household has a disability and requires continuous care);

Where there is a child under one, regardless of how many other adults are in the household;

Where there is a child under 5 with a disability that requires continuous care (regardless of how many other adults are in the household); or

Where an individual needs to move to another household to support their physical and mental wellbeing.

Lone workers with no physical contact with any other person

Individuals who normally work alone, or who can do so while still adhering to health and safety requirements, and who have no
physical customer or client interaction present no additional risk to
the transmission of the virus. As such it is considered that it is not proportionate to continue to restrict their business activities at this time.

Stage 1

Ability for two households to bubble and ability for outdoor gatherings of up to
5 people with a minimum of 2m social distancing maintained.

Non-public facing work places able to operate with up to 10 members of staff for outdoor sites and 5 members of staff for indoor sites where the work cannot be done remotely; where social distancing can be observed and sufficienthandwashing facilities can be provided.

Deliveries and takeaways are able to operate within the parameters and requirements of this stage.

Requirement on businesses to notify the States of their intention to operate and to maintain records, demonstrating that they are working to a clear method statement.

Business Sectors Operating

When in effect (not before the 18th February), any business sector can operate as long as they are not public facing and comply with restrictions, including no more than 10 workers permitted on outdoor sites reducing to 5 if working indoors.

This includes but is not limited to,
finance, legal and professional services including property transactions, ICT
and communications, bulk mailing and fulfilment, light manufacturing, catering, non-essential retail where goods can be sold online and delivered , construction with strict limit/conditions on non-resident workers, marine, motor vehicle and other repairs.

Stage 2
Gatherings of up to 30 people, inside

or outside.

Public facing businesses able to operate – with the exception of nightclubs – subject to following Public Health guidance.

Table service only in licensed premises.

Requirement on businesses to maintain records, demonstrating that they are working to a clear method statement.

No Public singing, or playing of woodwind and brass instruments.

Business Sectors Operating

When in effect (timing tbc):

Non-essential retail can open their premises,

Restaurants/food establishments/ pubs including hotels able to operate with table service only,

Construction sites with strict limit/ conditions on non-resident workers.

Stage 3

Return to a normal level of activity within the Bailiwick, with social, recreation and business activity able to proceed. No requirement for social distancing or

Business Sectors Operating

Return to a normal level of business activity within the Bailiwick, including nightclubs

face coverings.

Moving Forward

This document will be updated as we move through the Recovery Stages to exit lockdown.