Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Nearly 300 people have applied to be a part of the Jersey government’s Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The government is recruiting people to help administer the vaccine at the Covid-19 Vaccine Centre at Fort Regent.

Shortlisting is ongoing and successful candidates will be contacted this week.

The vaccination programme started on 13 December with a team of healthcare professionals vaccinating more than 300 residents in care homes following an agreement with the UK Government to vaccinate islanders in order of priority groups set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Care home staff are due to receive their first doses on Friday.

Minister for Health and Social Services Richard Renouf said: "It is very encouraging to see so many people applying for these roles.

"I want to thank those who have worked tirelessly since the start and will continue working hard to make sure islanders stay safe in these unprecedented times."

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Image source, GSPCA

A seal pup rescued by divers is doing so well it has taken its first dip in the rehabilitation pools at the GSPCA.

Joey the Jersey grey seal was spotted and rescued by Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) on Les Écréhous in November.

He was very thin at 18kgs.

Geoff George, head of marine mammals at the GSPCA, said Joey had spent weeks in intensive care but was recovering.

He said: "Joey got his first swim and jumped straight in and has been in and out all day.

“He is doing very well and being very naughty pulling whatever he can into the pool.”

The GSPCA said Joey was eating and putting on weight but called on people to support its care of Joey and other animals with donations. The GSPCA also urged anyone who sees a seal pup not approach it but to take a picture and send it in so they can assess how it is.

BBC Radio Jersey

Fewer than five people with coronavirus are being treated in intensive care at Jersey's General Hospital.

The government hasn't provided an exact number in intensive care - but say out of the 32 people with the infection in hospital, 10 are being treated for the virus.

It comes as health officials revealed another 100 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the past 24 hours - bringing the total number of active infections to 881.

In an effort to reduce the risk of infections spreading, the government's suspended visits for mental health patients - and won't let pregnant women be joined by a partner when they have ante-natal scans.

Health bosses say while they know the decisions may be distressing for some patients, the health service needs to adapt to rising Covid cases.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Guernsey and Jersey are set to get franchise outlets of UK clothing and homeware store Matalan.

Retail and food service operator SandpiperCI has announced the shops will open on both islands in March, carrying a full range of clothing and homeware products.

Mike Rutter, Sandpiper’s retail managing director said: “The Matalan stores will be a positive and welcome arrival in the current difficult retail climate."

The stores will occupy four units in Sandpiper’s Liberty Wharf complex and will replace George at its existing 5,200 sq ft shop in St Martin’s, Guernsey.

SandpiperCI also announced its George franchise shops will close in Jersey and Guernsey at the end of January.

The reason given for the store closures is because the franchise contracts are coming to an end and Asda, the owners of George, have made a corporate decision not to renew any of its worldwide franchise operations.

No redundancies will occur as a result of the George closures.

Johanna Carr
BBC News Online

Coronavirus cases have been identified at four Jersey schools while pupils at several others are being asked to learn from home due to staff shortages.

A Government of Jersey update on Monday evening, provided a list of schools affected:

At Jersey College for Girls, a student tested positive on Friday and is isolating at home with the rest of their household.

A member of staff at Hautlieu School has also tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday and is isolating at home following public health guidance.

A year group has been asked to learn from home from Tuesday and another year group, who were isolating at home last week, are due to return to school on Tuesday.

A student at Samarés School tested positive on Monday.

Parents of the year group have been asked to keep their child at home from Tuesday, isolating as a precautionary measure, to allow the track and trace process to be completed.

Three classes at Plat Douet School will continue to be temporarily closed until Thursday due to staff shortages and a year group at Le Rocquier School will learn from home on Tuesday due to a shortage of staff.

Image source, PA Media

St Saviour’s School Nursery will reopen, part time from Tuesday but is unable to open full time, due to a shortage of staff,

A year group at Les Quennevais School will return to school on Tuesday after a period in self-isolation.

Meanwhile, two year groups at Les Quennevais School have been advised to continue to isolate while the Track and Trace process is complete.

A member of First Tower School community tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday and parents of two year groups have been contacted and half of the class, who were direct contacts, have been advised to stay at home, isolating as a precautionary measure.

Due to a high number of teaching and support staff absent, at First Tower School, one of the year groups has been asked to work from home for the remainder of this week.

BBC Radio Jersey

Another 63 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Jersey - bringing the total number of active cases to 774.

The latest results published on Monday show twenty-six people have recovered from the virus, and the number of people in hospital with the infection has fallen by one to 24.

There are 31 active cases of Covid-19 in Jersey's care homes.

Contact tracing teams said they were working with 13 members of Jersey's ambulance services, after three staff tested positive for coronavirus.

BBC Radio Jersey

A faith group that supports vulnerable people in Jersey will be limiting its services over the Christmas holidays to keep its staff and customers safe.

The Jersey Salvation Army would usually have people at its headquarters during Christmas, but has decided to do food delivery and telephone services, for those who can't afford a meal or need some company.

Alice Nunn, one of its leaders, says although the government measures allow for it to be open and have some people indoors, they've chosen to be a bit more cautious.

BBC Radio Jersey

St Thomas Church in Jersey is due to reopen on Monday after nine months of restoration work.

The church has been closed since the beginning of March after a planning report showed the spire was at serious risk of collapse.

Repairs have cost about £1.5m, which has been raised by the church and its supporters.

Andrew Segal
BBC News

Residents in Jersey care homes started getting coronavirus vaccinations on Sunday - a day earlier than expected.

Officials said the island's government had made the call to deploy its vaccination teams earlier than Monday, as was originally planned, in light of a large rise of positive cases in care homes.

Homes saw a recent 400% increase, from four on Thursday to 19 by Saturday.

The Government of Jersey said it was a "momentous day" in the island's fight against Covid-19 and that the roll-out of the vaccine would continue in care homes "over the coming week, protecting our most vulnerable islanders".