25/03/20
Guidance on Public Health Directions
In light of the risk to public health caused by the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, the virus causing the disease COVID-19, the Committee for Health and Social Care has directed that all non-essential retail outlets close to members of the public. All other essential retail outlets are to implement social distancing.
Cafés and restaurants whose kitchen preparation space permits social distancing are limited to a takeaway service which must be home delivered. Hotels may also prepare meals for deliveries provided their kitchen preparation space permits social distancing.
All sporting events are cancelled.
Schools are closed, save to vulnerable children and children of essential workers.
All theatres, licensed premises, libraries, clubs, cinemas, community and youth centres, gyms, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, campsites, community spaces within parks, hair and beauty salons are to close.
Hotels, guest houses and any other premises used for board and lodging must close to all patrons other than residents.
Places of worship are to be shut with the exception of the Hospital chapel, provided only one person attends at any given time in order to maintain social distancing in a small place.
No unnecessary travel should take place in the Bailiwick, now or during the Easter break and those arriving by sea or by air must comply with current social isolation provisions (see further The Emergency Powers (Coronavirus) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Regulations, 2020 made on 18th March which, together with other related legislation, can be found on the following link -http://www.guernseylawofficers.gg/article/176933/COVID-19-information- and-documentation )
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The Committee for Health and Social Care has said people need to stay at home and only leave to:
- go to work (if they are essential workers)
- go to the shops for essential supplies
- attend an urgent medical appointment or if they need to care for others
- exerciseEssential retail outlets
The following is a list of what are considered essential retail outlets:
- retail and wholesale sale of food, beverages and newspapers,
- retail sale of household consumer products necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences and businesses
- pharmacies/chemists and retailers providing pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical or dispensing services
- opticians/optometrists/audiologists
- fuel stations and heating fuel providers
- retailers involved in the repair of boats, motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycle repair and related facilities (for example, tyre sales and repairs)
- retail sale of essential items for the health and welfare of animals, including animal feed and medicines, animal food, pet food and animal supplies including bedding
- laundries and drycleaners
- banks, loan agencies, insurance agencies, post offices
- retail sale of safety supply stores (for example, work clothes, Personal Protective Equipment)
- hardware stores, builders’ merchants and stores that provide hardwareproducts necessary for home and business maintenance, sanitation and farm equipment, supplies and tools essential for gardening/farming/agriculture
- retail sale of office products and services for individuals working from home and for businesses
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retailers providing electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for home
Essential Workers
The following is a list of what are considered essential workers –
Private sector
Private sector employers falling within the below categories should determine which roles are essential to the ability to maintain critical services.
Workers ESSENTIAL to the functioning of any activity necessary to:
o -Ensure the continuing supply and accessibility of food and other
essential goods including
- Supermarketsandgrocerystores
- Airandseafreighttransport
- Stevedores and other necessary port management activities
- Freightoperators
o -Ensuring continuing health and community care services including
- GPsurgeries/medicalpractices/dentalpractices
- Opticians/audiologists
- Pharmacies
- Residentialandnursinghomes
- Private and third sector agencies providing care services in ahome or other setting (including the care of animals)
o -Those essential to law and order
Advocatesandstaff
o -Those providing private school services and daytime childcare
Private primary and secondary schools
Nurseriesandday-careservices
o -Maintain critical national infrastructure (essential staff)
- Utilities (water, electricity, gas, oil, post)
- Telecoms providers (essential staff required to delivermobile and fixed line telecommunication services)
o -Maintain public transport
Bus operators and school transport providers
o -Public service broadcasters and other mainstream news mediao Banking services
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Staff that are critical to providing branch-based services to enable cash and other financial transactions
Staff involved in maintaining critical economic infrastructure that requires on-site systems access
o Critical seasonal horticultural work that can be undertaken while adhering to social distancing guidelines
o Services that ensure the cleanliness and hygiene of working environments that can be undertaken while adhering to social distancing guidelines
Public service
Workers ESSENTIAL to the functioning of:o -Courts and Judicial Services
o -Health and Social Care
o -Education
o -Emergency Services (Law Enforcement, Ambulance, Fire and Coastguard)
o -Prison
o -Law Officers
o -States Works
o -Guernsey Waste
o -Ports
o -Regulatory roles directly related to financial stability and banking
supervisiono -Treasury
o -Social Security
o -Ancillary staff from the private or public sectors who are essential
to supporting the States of Guernsey’s response to COVID-19, or civil servants or office holders specified by the Policy and Finance Committee of the States of Alderney, or the Policy and Finance Committee of the Chief Pleas of Sark, as the case may be.
School/College leaders will also invite students to attend if they have specific circumstances of need that the school/college is aware of (for example, looked- after children).
Frequently Asked Questions –
What is social distancing?
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Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness and in the Bailiwick this means you should be at least 2 metres away from other people, if they are not members of your household. This lessens your chances of catching COVID-19.
What is meant by my household?
Your household means members of your immediate family, or other relatives or persons treated as members of your family who are residing with you in your dwelling, for the time being.
What is a dwelling?
A dwelling is your house, flat, or other place of residence including curtilage which is any area of land attached to your house, flat, or other place of residence and forming one enclosure with it.
What exercise can I undertake and with whom?
You can go walking, cycling, running, sea swimming or take part in other open sea activities for your own health and welfare for up to 2 hours every day together with members of your household, provided social distancing is maintained with any members of the public you may meet.
If you choose to take part in open sea activities, this is at your own risk and it may be advisable to have one other person with you, for safety reasons, provided that social distancing is maintained.
You may also exercise by yourself or with one other person who is not a member of your household, provided that social distancing measures are maintained.
Can I ride my horse?
Yes.
Can I take my pet/animal to the vet?
Yes, provided social distancing is maintained.
What shopping can I undertake and who can go with me?
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You can attend any essential retail outlet (listed above) which includes, for example, your local supermarket, pharmacy, petrol station, dry cleaners, pet shops, either by yourself, with members of your household or with one other person provided, in the latter case, that social distancing is maintained.
Can I buy a new phone/repair an old one?
Yes if necessary now and provided that social distancing is maintained.
Can I order a takeaway?
Only takeaway services whose kitchen preparation space permits social distancing should operate in the present time. You cannot collect the takeaway, it must be home delivered and appropriate social distancing measures maintained. The prohibition on gatherings and meetings of not more than 2 people must be adhered to (i.e. only 1 person should deliver to you).
What does attending a medical or dental appointment mean?
This means attending the GP or dental surgery, to see a medical or dental practitioner or attending the hospital, as advised by your medical specialist. The directions provide that you may see essential workers for the provision of such essential services. You may also collect prescriptions from a pharmacy or shop in a pharmacy for any of their normal retail products, as needed.
Can I attend my optician or audiologist?
Yes, provided that social distancing can be maintained. They may ask you to call first and confirm whether you are feeling unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms (shortness of breath, dry cough, fever).
Can I get my car/boat/bicycle repaired?
Yes if absolutely necessary, particularly if you are an essential worker, but routine repairs should be postponed unless without them, you cannot go shopping/attend medical appointments etc.
Can I go to the post office/bank/insurers?
Yes, provided social distancing is maintained.
Can my Minister of religion visit me or undertake a funeral service?
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Yes provided social distancing is maintained. Home visits should not be prolonged and for any funeral service, attendees are limited to immediate family, or if none, other next of kin or any close friend.
Can my gardener or cleaner(s) come to my house or flat?
Not if they or you or any member of your household feel unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms (shortness of breath, dry cough, fever). Otherwise your gardener can come provided they are in a group of not more than 2, do not meet the occupants of your household and social distancing measures are maintained. Your cleaner should only attend if really necessary and provided you and members of your household do not meet with them. This means that you and members of your household should not be in your house or flat for the duration of the cleaning. They must not be in a group of more than 2 and social distancing must be maintained. If you live alone and only one cleaner usually comes, you may be present in the house if it is impracticable for you to leave provided social distancing is maintained.
Can my plumber/roofer/scaffolder/electrician/workperson still undertake works I have already agreed to?
Works should be undertaken only if it is necessary, for example, to make immediate repairs. Not more than 2 people should undertake the work and social distancing must be maintained. If essential maintenance works require more than 2 people, then you should check the States website or contact the Committee for Health and Social Care to see whether they have granted any general permission for emergency works or otherwise might, exceptionally, permit the works to take place. Workpeople should be asked not to come to your dwelling if they or you or any member of your household are feeling unwell or have any Covid-19 symptoms (shortness of breath, dry cough, fever).
Can non-essential retail outlets make online or telephone sales and home deliveries of their goods?
Online or telephone sales are not prohibited and home deliveries can be made provided the prohibition on gatherings and meetings of not more than 2 people is adhered to at all times and social distancing measures are maintained (i.e. only 1 person should deliver if you are going to be at home).
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