If one or more individual within a household develops a new continuous cough and/or fever with or without a headache, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, blocked or runny nose or gastrointestinal fever then the person or people with symptoms must immediately self-isolate within the home and anyone else living within that home must also isolate.
If someone lives with others and experiences symptoms, the person who is first unwell must self-isolate within one room of the home if possible until either clear of symptoms or for a minimum of seven days – whichever is the longer time period.
All other members of the household must isolate for a minimum of 14 days as they may be carrying the virus but have no symptoms.
If they develop symptoms, they should isolate until clear of symptoms or for seven days after any symptoms are first shown, whichever is the longest. Everyone must continue to practise strict social distancing after their isolation period has ended.
And if one household member develops coronavirus symptoms late in the 14-day household isolation period (for example, on day 13 or day 14) the isolation period does not need to be extended for all members of the household, but the person with the new symptoms must stay at home while they have symptoms or for a minimum of seven days – whichever is the longest time period, from the date that they first started showing symptoms.
If someone lives alone and experiences symptoms, the minimum isolation duration is seven days after the symptoms first appear.
Jersey’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ivan Muscat, said: ‘People living together are of course more likely to infect each other. If the entire household isolates when one person has symptoms, it will reduce the rate of infection passed on in the community by other household members who may not be showing symptoms.’
If someone who is unwell lives with anyone over 65 or anyone with existing health conditions that make them vulnerable, those older and vulnerable household members should:
• keep away from the unwell person/people as much as physically possible
• consider moving out of the household to other friends and family who do not have symptoms
Households needing to isolate should contact the Government of Jersey helpline on 445566 to receive advice on food and medicine deliveries.
