Physical distancing reduced to one metre in Jersey from Friday - and pubs open next week
The two-metre physical distancing rule will be reduced to one metre from this Friday, with pubs opening next week.
The details are contained in a ‘confidential’ letter to the island’s hospitality sector, to help them prepare for the changes, which have been widely circulated on social media ahead of a formal government announcement which was due to be made on Thursday.
Gary Burgess spoke to pub landlord, Tomasz Turi, about being able to open just for drinks...
It follows an ITV News interview with the Chief Minister, recorded on Monday this week, in which he indicated the physical distancing change was imminent.
Other changes from this Friday include allowing different households to share a single large table, though those households will need to be separated by one metre.
The blanket closing time of 10:45pm will be lifted, meaning venues can return to their normal licensed hours.
Pubs will reopen from 1 July, but nightclubs will remain closed for now, so long as the number of active cases of Covid-19 remains “low”.
The people Gary Burgess spoke to in St Helier today were positive about the changes...
The letter, signed by the Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham, says “in the interests of giving Jersey businesses time to prepare, I would be grateful if you could share the information with your members in confidence ahead of a news conference planned for Thursday at 3pm.”
A senior politician, who was one of many to share the letter on social media, told ITV News: “So much for in confidence, then.”