Over 65s in Jersey given updated lockdown advice

Credit: ITV Channel TV

The lockdown rules for vulnerable people including over 65s in Jersey have changed.

Over the weekend, most islanders were allowed to leave their home for up to four hours a day for any reason, and a household was allowed to meet up to two other people outdoors while maintaining social distancing.

It was part of a relaxation of the government's lockdown measures.

But the government advised that those considered "vulnerable", which includes over 65s and some with health conditions, could only go out for a maximum of two hours "and limit social contact as much as possible".

That changed today after the Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondre, declared the advice promoted by the government on social media as "wrong" in a radio interview.

It has now been updated to allow "vulnerable" people to enjoy the relaxed rules.

"Extremely vulnerable" people who have been written to by their GP about their health must continue to shield.

The government has confirmed to ITV News that the policy change was made in draft form by Ministers last Thursday, and finalised on Friday morning before being made public on Friday afternoon.

But the repeated publication of incorrect information on social media, in a press release and on the government website, was not picked up for four days. The error was corrected on Tuesday afternoon.

The government's guide to who's "vulnerable" and who's "extremely vulnerable" can be read here.