Coronavirus symptoms
The three main symptoms of coronavirus are:
1. High temperature / fever
This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (if unsure ask a household member to check). You may also feel hot or cold and shivery. If you have a thermometer you can check and monitor your temperature. A temperature of 37.8 degrees indicates that you have a fever (a normal body temperature is 37 degrees)
2. New, continuous cough
This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
3. Loss or change to your sense of smell and / or taste
This means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these main symptoms.
If you or someone you live with is showing at least 1 of the above three main symptoms of the coronavirus, you and the rest of your household should go into household isolation and call the helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445566. This means you should stay at home. Don't go out to work, to school or college, shopping, visit public places or use public transport.
Accompanying symptoms
The 3 main symptoms may be accompanied by:
- headaches
- tiredness
- muscle ache
- sore throat
- gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting and diarrhoea) can also be a feature of COVID-19 and these are more common in children than adults.
If you do not have any of the 3 main symptoms but have one of the accompanying symptoms and are uncertain or have any concerns that you may have COVID contact the helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445566. Anyone with gastrointestinal symptoms should stay at home until the symptoms have cleared irrespective of the cause.
Cold symptoms
It is important that all of us are vigilant for the symptoms of COVID-19. If you develop any of the 3 main symptoms above, then you and your household should isolate and call the coronavirus helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445566 as soon as possible to get advice and arrange a test.
If you don't have any of the 3 main symptoms of COVID-19 but have other cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, you do not need to be tested or self-isolate. You can go to work or school if you're fit to do so.
Asymptomatic transmission
Asymptomatic (a carrier who shows no symptoms) transmission of COVID-19 may be possible. It should assumed that even if you are not showing any symptoms of the virus, that you may be carrying and transmitting it to others. This is more likely if you are at risk from travel or contact with a person positive for COVID-19.
Helplines
Coronavirus helpline
If you think you may have symptoms of coronavirus, immediately isolate yourself and everyone in your household at home. Call the helpline on +44 (0)1534 445566.
Emergencies only
For emergencies only, including difficulty breathing call 999.
Families in need of help
For families in need of help, call the Children and Families Hub on +44 (0) 1534 519000
Youth Enquiry Service
For young people up to 25 years old, call 0800 735010
Support services
Directory of
support services available to all Islanders
Isolation to contain the spread of coronavirus
There are different groups of people who need to isolate to contain the spread of coronavirus (COIVID-19):
If you are showing symptoms of coronavirus, you and those you live with need to immediately isolate at home and call the helpline to let them know on +44 (0) 1534 445566.
If you've been in contact with a confirmed positive coronavirus case, a member of the Contact Tracing team will be in touch with you. This team assess the proximity and duration of any contact with confirmed cases of coronavirus in Jersey. You should only need to go into isolation if we have been in touch to advise you to do so.
If you need to isolate because of coronavirus, you may be eligible for isolation benefit.
General Public Health measures: what you can do
Everyone is strongly encouraged to follow these simple steps:
- wash your hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitiser (with 60 to70% alcohol content) throughout the day - especially when outside your home (for example, when shopping or at work), and if your hands have touched any hard surface (for example, door handles). Do not touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth unless you have washed hands or used sanitiser
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catch your cough or sneeze in a tissue, bin it and wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue, cough into your elbow and avoid touching your face
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clean and disinfect objects and surfaces, especially toilet facilities. Assume all surfaces are potentially infectious unless you are certain they have just been disinfected
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cloth masks are advised, especially in enclosed public spaces such as shops and on public transport (for staff and customers)
- if you have flu-like symptoms, stay or go home immediately and call the Helpline on +44 (0) 1534 445566
You should also maintain a
physical distance of 1 metre from anyone you don't live with.
It's important everyone is able to enjoy social interaction, but while maintaining a 1 metre physical distance, to limit spread and to protect more Islanders at higher risk. Anyone can catch COVID-19 and anyone can spread it.
Shielding people at higher risk from coronavirus
For people with certain medical conditions, and for older people, there are additional risks if they become infected with COVID-19.
In light of the current very low levels of COVID-19 in Jersey, if you're at moderate risk (vulnerable) you are encouraged to return to your routine where it is safe to do so, but to be especially cautious to follow
Key public health messages. If it is not possible for you to work from home, you are encouraged to return to your work place, if it has been agreed with your employer that this can be done safely.
If you are at high risk (extremely vulnerable) you can undertake outdoor leisure or recreational activities as long as you can physically distance from those you do not live with, and carefully follow the
Key public health messages. You should continue to undertake work from home where this is possible but going out to work is currently not recommended, unless for example, you work alone and do not need to take public transport to travel to your work place.
The list of conditions that classify someone as high or moderate risk regarding COVID-19 can be found here:
Shielding those at higher risk from coronavirus
Islanders in doubt about their individual situation should seek advice from a health professional.
Wearing a cloth mask
We now advise all Islanders to cover their mouth and nose with a scarf, snood, folded cloth or cloth mask when outside of home especially during shopping trips for essential supplies.
A cloth mask is not a substitute for strict physical distancing or good hand and respiratory hygiene.
Cloth masks or nose and mouth coverings should not be used by children younger than 2 years or anyone who has trouble breathing or who would not be able to remove the mask themselves.
Wearing a cloth mask to delay the spread of coronavirus
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