Covid-19: Level 3 of the Safe Exit Framework

On 11 May 2020, Jersey moved to Level 3 of the Safe Exit Framework. This, in turn, has led to a loosening of the Jersey Government’s Covid-19 restrictions. Perhaps the most impactful changes are to the “Stay at Home” advice and the new guidance on work and non-essential businesses.

Level 3 continues to include a “Stay at Home” provision, meaning that Islanders are advised to stay at home when they can. Islanders are now permitted, however, to leave their homes for a maximum of six hours per day and may meet with five people from outside their household. Strict social distancing measures continue to remain in place. Social events and gatherings remain prohibited, with the exception of funerals and emergency marriages (approval for which will be granted on a case-by-case basis).

Some categories of non-essential businesses are now permitted to open provided that they comply with social distancing measures and other Government guidelines. The businesses now permitted to open are:

• “outdoor recreational sites, facilities and services”;
• “cafés and restaurants, for the purpose of offering outdoor seated food service” ; and
• “large shops (with a retail sales area of at least 700 square metres)”.

Other non-essential businesses may open provided that:

• that the business has a maximum of two people inside the business premises at any one time;
• strict social distancing measures are in place; and
• the business is not a type of establishment which has been ordered to remain closed. The list of categories of businesses which have been ordered to remain closed is extensive and includes, for example, hairdressers, cinemas and gyms.

Where a non-essential business provides services outdoors or away from its own premises (such as gardeners and pool cleaners) it may provide services provided that no more than six people are gathered in one place at a time. In all cases, strict social distancing of two metres must be observed.

The full Government guidance is available here. It is expected that other retail premises will be permitted to open on 18 May 2020 and we will provide an update when further developments occur. For further information or specific advice, please do not hesitate to contact us (Dexter Flynn, Frances Littler, Stephanie Habin or Michael Davies).