Jersey will be placed under lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, the island’s Chief Minister has announced.
The government expects the measures to be in place until at least the end of April.
From 8am on Monday 30 March, islanders will be unable to leave their homes, except for the following reasons:
Shopping for essentials such as food or medicine, as infrequently as possible.
Exercise- this includes walking, cycling, running, or caring for animals.
Travelling to and from work, for essential workers only.
Announcing the news, Senator John Le Fondré declared the situation a 'national emergency'.
During the lockdown, non-essential business will have to close and public gatherings of two or more people will be broken up.
Earlier this week the States approved emergency powers, giving the government the power to require islanders to be screened for coronavirus using reasonable force.
Deputy Richard Renouf, the island's Health Minister, says the new measures are being introduced on the advice of Dr Ivan Muscat, Jersey's Medical Officer for Health.
He said the delays in receiving test results meant the government could not fully understand how well the measures it has already introduced are working.
