Jersey's new hospital is set to be designed and built by a local construction firm working in partnership with a Spanish company, the government has revealed.

A £30m design contract will be signed by a new consortium called ROK FCC in July, which will help select the new hospital site and submit a full planning application by autumn 2021.

The consortium is made up of local company ROK, which was responsible for building Les Quennevais School, Jersey’s Police Headquarters and the redevelopment of College Gardens, and FCC, which has built hospitals across Europe.

The project is expected to begin construction in 2022 and be completed by 2026, but the final cost of it is still unknown, the government confirmed.

A summary of Jersey's level two lockdown guidance, which has come into force, has been released in British sign language.

Patients in Jersey requiring treatment at Southampton hospital will need to isolate for seven days before they travel from Monday, the Government of Jersey has announced.

The hospital confirmed the isolation period is to protect both the staff and other patients receiving care and minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Anyone travelling to Southampton Hospital from 15 June will be tested for coronavirus 72 hours before leaving.

For emergency admissions, Covid-19 tests will still be given but will not delay the transfer, the government said.

Those who require further Jersey hospital visits during that week will be advised of the alternative process and GPs will be required to use personal protective equipment, they added

On returning to Jersey, patients will need to follow guidelines, which include testing at the airport or 14 days of self-isolation.

Patients with follow-up appointments in Southampton will need to repeat the process, although some may be offered by video to avoid unnecessary travel, the government confirmed.

BBC Radio Jersey

St Helier Town Hall will reopen to islanders on Monday.

Under lockdown the hall has run its services through email, online and over the phone.

The building will open from 09:00 BST with social distancing measures in place.

However, islanders are asked to continue to use online services as much as possible to prevent queues and long waiting times at the hall.

Rebecca Thorn
BBC News Online

Islanders have been seen queuing outside of a barber shop in Jersey, as salons reopen under level two of the lockdown exit.

Those who couldn't wait for a snip were spotted queuing patiently under umbrellas in the pouring rain outside Jim's barber in Five Oaks.

Hairdressers and beauty salons have been closed since the island went into lockdown on 30 March.

The government has "strongly advised" businesses against resuming treatments that involve "close work on or around the face", including lash extensions and facial waxing.

A statue of a Jersey man with links to the slave trade that was covered in white paint has been cleaned.

The sculpture of Sir George Carteret in St Peter was daubed with the paint on Wednesday evening.

Parish staff confirmed they had cleaned the statue on Thursday after being given permission by the police.

Officers say the incident is being investigated as a case of malicious damage.

BBC Radio Jersey

Churches in Jersey will reopen this weekend, but those who attend will not be allowed to sing.

Churches of all denominations have been allowed to start services inside again, after offering them online during the lockdown.

It means weddings and funerals can be held inside the buildings again.

However, restrictions will mean no more than 40 people can be inside at once, and all attendees must leave their details to help with contact tracing.

The government has said churches must be thoroughly cleaned between services.

The Very Reverend Mike Keirle says some churches will use a ticketing system.

"Of course if there are more than 40 people turn up, then we've got to think about how we can regulate those numbers, so it will be very, very different."

BBC Radio Jersey

A Jersey hotelier has said the further easing of coronavirus restrictions is a "step in the right direction", but the tourism industry needs flights and ferries to resume in order to survive.

Fiona Kerley, the managing director of Omaroo Hotel, welcomed the relaxation of the rules under level two of the exit framework.

It means hotels and other holiday accommodation can reopen for local people, as the government encourages islanders to take a 'staycation' this summer.

Ms Kerley said: "It isn't going to make us all a lot of money unfortunately, we need to be busier, we need flights back, we need the boat to start operating again, and it's really important that we keep these routes alive for the island."

Jersey's chief minister has said the burden on businesses to record customers' details is a "consequence" of allowing them to reopen.

He said issues with a contact tracing app had delayed its use in the island, which he hoped would be resolved in the next few weeks.

Keeping a record of customers would allow the government to "easily and quickly" contact trace if an infected person was known to have entered the premises, Senator John Le Fondre said.

Senator Lyndon Farnham said there would be "no data protection issues" for businesses, as the government and data protection will take a "very pragmatic" view of the information.

James White
Sports Producer, BBC Channel Islands

The Jersey Cricket Board has announced plans to start the local league season over the first weekend in July.

The board's 'return to cricket' plans and proposals have been approved by Jersey Sport and the Government of Jersey.

From Friday, modified training sessions and games in groups of up to 40 are once again permitted, with strict social distancing and safety measures in place.

Two educational trial games will be held on the 20 and 23 June, to test out the new regulations.

Senator Lyndon Farnham has said he is keen for Jersey to move to a 1m (3ft 3in) social distancing rule as soon as medial advice deems it safe.

Medical Director Patrick Armstrong had suggested about 80% of the droplets from a sneeze lands within a 1m range.

The minister for economic development said the shortened distance would be vital for likes of restaurants and shops.

"The sooner we can ease those restrictions and allow businesses to operate normally, the sooner the recovery of the economy," he said.

Jersey's chief minister has defended the issuing of guidance to businesses two days before more are allowed to reopen under level two of the exit framework.

Senator John Le Fondre said certain industry groups had been in consultation with the government last week while the guidance was being drafted.

"So although the formal guidance was only issued yesterday, certainly their industry representatives will have had a direction of travel at the latest during the course of last week," he said.

Senator Lyndon Farnham, the Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture said the government had decided to allow businesses to reopen this week rather than next to allow those ready to start trading.

The chief minister has said the biggest challenge of reopening Jersey's borders will be dealing with the increased number of people arriving at the airport.

Senator John Le Fondre said he could not confirm when the borders would reopen, but said he would "like" to see them reopen in early July.

Senator Lyndon Farnham said Jersey would become increasingly reliant on testing at the border as the island's "greatest protection" against the spread of coronavirus.

"I'm fully aware that many islanders want to get off the island to visit friends and relatives, and many people want to come here for the same reason," he said.

"I'm also mindful of the severe challenges facing our hospitality sector and so we must work to consider those and how they might be mitigated."

However, Mr Farnham warned the borders would not be reopened until it was safe to do so.

Jersey's chief minister has said today's press conference will be the last of the regular coronavirus briefings held by the government.

Senator Le Fondre said the States would move into a "more normal routine of public engagement".

Updates from the government will be issued through the media "as and when there are important announcement about our movements through the safe exit framework", the chief minister said.

He thanked islanders for their patience and support through the crisis.

Mr Le Fondre said briefing would likely be replaced by one-on-one interviews with the media, but he was keen to keep the level of public engagement up and further briefings in the current format may be held.

Islanders may be asked for their contact details when visiting some businesses in Jersey.

Senator Lyndon Farnham said this would be used for contact tracing purposes if a shop or restaurant became aware of a positive coronavirus case on their premises.

Further changes may include increased PPE for staff, and protective screens put in place.

"These steps will help us to continue to move forward safely."

Businesses in Jersey will be allowed to reopen in order to offer a 'staycation' for islanders under the lockdown restrictions, Senator Lyndon Farnham has said.

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, and holiday lets will be allowed to reopen to local residents from Friday.

Restaurants will also be permitted to offer indoor and outdoor dining under level two of the exit strategy, but must serve food with all alcoholic drinks.

The minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture said: "I would encourage islanders to take advantage of this opportunity because not only will it provide a welcome rest for recuperation after lockdown, but it will also be supporting our hospitality industry - which have been severely impacted by the pandemic."

Islanders should continue to follow government health advice as Jersey moves to level two of its lockdown exit framework on Friday, the chief minister has said.

This includes adhering to four main principles:

• Safer hygiene
• Safer at a distance
• Safer in smaller groups
• Safer outside

Senator Le Fondre said this meant continuing to catch coughs or sneezes in a tissue, washing hands, and cleaning surfaces regularly.

He added islanders should keep a "smaller social circle than usual" and keep 2m (6ft 6in) apart from those from outside of a person's household.

Private gatherings in people's homes, which are no longer illegal, should be limited to a maximum of 20 people, the chief minister said.

"Together, we must achieve a balance of becoming more social, gathering a little more, taking part in more activities, and beginning some connectivity off-island, without triggering an upsurge of new coronavirus infections."

There are currently five active cases of coronavirus in Jersey, the chief minister has confirmed.

One of the cases was found through the government testing of front-line workers, two through the patients seeking healthcare, and another two through contact tracing.

None of the cases are from care homes, the chief minister said.

The last positive result found in a care home was recorded on 31 March.

Jersey will enter level two of its safe exit framework, external on Friday, the government has confirmed.

The move will allow more businesses in the island to reopen, including beauty salons and hairdressers.

It will also see restaurants offer indoor dining, and the reopening of some places of worship.

The Chief Minister will lead a press conference at 14:00 BST in which he is expected to offer further details on the changes.

The Government of Jersey says telecom firm Sure has apologised for sending a States of Guernsey text message about a government briefing on Thursday at 13:00.

A briefing by Jersey's chief minister is due to start at 14:00 on Thursday and is being streamed on Facebook and on BBC Radio Jersey 88.8FM, 1026AM and online.