The government has relaxed some rules "on a temporary basis" after an islander appealed for help.

Elise Wetherall has had to self-isolate with her partner due to his medical conditions and as a result has lost her income.

She had applied for support and said it was "ridiculous" the government could not help her financially.

"There are so many people in my situation right now, who are not getting the financial help they deserve from the government."

A government spokesperson has since said: “The minister has agreed that under the current circumstances people under the age of 25 who live independently and meet the other tests of Income Support will be able to apply for the accommodation component, i.e. the 12 month rule will be relaxed on a temporary basis.”

The States of Jersey has advice on best practice for protecting yourself, external and those you live with on their website.

The basic principles, which apply to those caring for someone in self-isolation as well, are:

Stay at home

Do not leave home for any reason, except for getting medical care when instructed.

Separate yourself from those you live with

Remain inside a well-ventilated room with an outside-facing window, separate from others and keep the door closed.

Wear a face-mask when it is necessary to leave your room.

Use a separate bathroom, if available, which is regularly cleaned.

If using a separate bathroom is not possible:

• Set up a bathroom rota for washing or bathing, with the isolated person going last and thoroughly cleaning the bathroom themselves if they are able to do so
• You must use separate towels from the rest of the household

Avoid using the a kitchen when others are inside it, take your meals back to your room to eat and use a dishwasher to clean what you have used if available.

Avoid sharing household items

You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels or bedding.

Laundry, bedding and towels should be placed in a plastic bag and washed once the tests for COVID-19 are negative.

Call ahead before visiting your doctor

All medical visits should be agreed in advance of arrival.

Practice good hygiene

• Regular handwashing with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues, place it in a plastic bag and wash your hands immediately afterwards

Monitor your symptoms

Seek prompt medical attention if your symptoms worsen, for example, if you have difficulty breathing.

If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, inform the operator you are being tested for coronavirus.

Do not have visitors

You should only allow those who live in your home to stay.

If you think there is an urgent need to have someone visit, discuss it with infection control first.

In emergencies, speak with someone over the phone or video message first.

Use your phone or other technology to keep in touch with family and friends.

St Helier and St Saviour are holding one final collection on Friday evening before suspending the services.

They say it is to keep workers safe during the coronavirus outbreak.

Parishioners are being asked to store their recycling in a safe place until collections begin again, but if they can't then to put them in with their rubbish.

The Dean of Jersey is asking islanders to join him in a day of prayer this Sunday for anyone affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

He wants Christian communities to join together prayer at 18:00 on Sunday in a bid to unite them.

Hairdressers, beauty parlours, nail bars, tattooists and laser and cosmetic clinics - delivering non-essential cosmetic treatments - in Jersey have been told to close, external.

As have all restaurants - although take away services can continue if they follow strict new guidelines, external designed to maintain excellent food hygiene whilst also ensuring social distancing measures are practised.

It the latest move from health authorities aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

LibertyBus, Jersey's bus operater, will run a reduced timetable from Saturday as a result of the coronavirus.

A "core service" will ensure critical workers can continue to travel.

The main changes to the timetable include:

• Weekday services will start later and finish earlier with reduced frequency at peak times
• Saturday services will be the same as the Sunday timetables, with many services running less frequently, and no early and late services
• Routes 1 and 15 will be reduced to half hourly service rather than every 15 minutes
• Routes 1a, 2, 5, 7, 12, 13 and 19 will have a reduced timetable
• Routes 6, 11 and 28 will not operate as these are largely covered by other routes
• Route 4a will run instead of Route 4 on Saturdays: this means there will be no buses to Bouley Bay, Bonne Nuit Bay, and areas north of Trinity Church at weekends

Kevin Hart, Director of LibertyBus said key workers who could not get a bus within an hour of the normal scheduled time should contact the customer service team, which may provide a minibus.

Condor Ferries has said it will be suspending all passenger ferries until 30 April, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ferry-operator had previously cancelled services between 23 March and 2 April, but said the "unprecedented global crisis" had forced them to extend this.

Paul Luxon, Condor’s chief executive said: "We have to react to the changing circumstances and government-imposed constraints on travel, which has sadly but inevitably led us to this course of action.

"We remain absolutely committed to restarting services as soon as we can."

The company's freight services continue to serve the Channel Islands.

Senator Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations, has said unemployment will rise in Jersey as a result of the coronavirus.

The Fiscal Policy Panel, which provides independent economic advice to the States, told ministers a sharp global recession "cannot be avoided", and the pandemic would shut down "large parts of Jersey's economy".

The latest coronavirus test results show 32 people have tested positive while 472 were negative. A further 167 are awaiting results.

The States of Jersey said the results were received on Thursday morning after a five-day delay "due to the volume of tests being requested in the UK".

A spokesman said the rise corresponds the with projections of the deputy medical officer of health, Dr Ivan Muscat.

However, as the virus has "started to spread within the community" new restrictions are being introduced for all over 65s and those with medical conditions - including additional restrictions for those at "severe risk" from the virus.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The government has announced it will provide support for workers with less than five years residency in Jersey, who have lost their job as a result of the coronavirus.

The scheme will offer the following weekly payments:

• £100 for an individual with a partner who is not claiming from the scheme
• £150 for those without a partner
• £250 for a couple who are both claiming
• £50 per child

For those who have lived in Jersey for less than six months, the States will pay them £70 per week.

This group will not receive support for rent payments, Deputy Judy Martin said.

She added the government would support those moving back to home countries as soon as it was safe to do so.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Charities in Jersey will receive financial support from the island's lottery and reclaim funds, says the minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture.

Senator Lyndon Farnham said blocks of £250,000 would be distributed by an independent organisation.

He said the arrangement would remain in place until the coronavirus pandemic was over, or alternative plans were made.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The Government of Jersey has pledged an extra £100m to help support local businesses.

The money will be used to fund up to 80% of an employee's pay, with a maximum contribution from the government of £1,600 per employee each month.

The change is due to take effect from 1 April, and is expected to support 27,000 islanders, half of the island's workforce, according to Senator Lyndon Farnham.

He said the scheme included the self-employed.

Guernsey and Jersey would "help each other out" if one island is able to start testing locally before the other, says Jersey's chief minister.

Senator John Le Fondre said: "Whoever gets the kit first I'm sure we while work together in the best interests of all Channel Islanders.

"Certainly from our perspective I'm sure we'd be willing to assist Guernsey if it was needed and my understanding is Guernsey would be willing to assist us in all of ours hour of need."

He said on-island testing was "still a few weeks away".

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

The Ports of Jersey have said the island's airport and harbour "remain open for business".

Chief executive Matt Thomas said the airport was focused on ensuring flights were maintained for islanders requiring medical evacuation, non-emergency medical treatment in the UK, repatriation from overseas and essential workers.

He said harbour teams were working alongside ferry operators and freight companies to ensure shops remained stocked and supply chains were maintained.

"I would like to give special thanks to the amazing effort and teamworking that’s taking place across all the companies operating at the airport and harbour.

"We’re operating in a rapidly changing and challenging environment, but we’re all in this together", he said.

Those with medical conditions that put them at ‘severe risk’ from COVID-19 are now advised to "home isolate" in Jersey, the island's government has said, external.

This includes islanders with certain cancers, severe respiratory conditions such as severe asthma, those on medications that significantly affect their immune system, and pregnant women with underlying heart disease.These groups are advised to:

• Strictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
• Do not leave your house
• Do not attend any gatherings. This includes gatherings of friends and families in private spaces for example family homes, weddings and religious services
• Do not go out for shopping, work, leisure or travel
• When arranging food or medication deliveries, these should be left at the door to minimise contact
• People in home isolation should keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media

Jersey residents with underlying medical conditions and everyone aged 65 or over "must self-isolate", the island's government has said, external.

They are being told to do so "to shield themselves from the spread of the coronavirus, as they are more likely to suffer from severe symptoms, be hospitalised and require intensive care".

Islanders aged 65 and over, and people with underlying medical conditions should only leave their homes for the following:

• To shop for basic necessities, such as food and medicine
• For daily exercise for up to two hours. This can include walking, cycling, running, sea swimming or other open sea activities, provided you maintain social distancing from everyone else
• For medical reasons, if you are advised to do so by a healthcare worker or in an emergency

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Image source, JSPCA

Staff at Jersey's animal shelter, the JSPCA, are taking animals home to look after them during the coronavirus outbreak.

Debra D'Orelans, chief executive of the charity, said enclosures had been set up in staff members' gardens to accommodate the new additions.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

There has been an "overwhelming" response from volunteers in Jersey during the coronavirus outbreak, Deputy Judy Martin has said.

The government announced on Monday it would be co-ordinating an island-wide volunteer group for those willing to help out.

Deputy Martin said she was pleased to see so many young people come forward, as existing voluntary groups were largely made up of older islanders deemed vulnerable to the virus.

She said "the penny dropped" for islanders as soon as they began to identify at-risk groups.