Jersey's medical officer of health has said the island could face the coronavirus crisis until spring next year.

Dr Susan Turnbull said the pandemic would be a "long-term issue" and the island would need to respond to the "collateral harm" caused by the lockdown restrictions.

"Covid is not the only thing that can kill you. It's the possibility that people are accumulating physical unfitness, losing independence, developing mental health problems, possibly using more alcohol."

"We have to keep that balanced view of what's actually in people's best interests of their health and wellbeing."

Jersey's Nightingale hospital could be used over the winter as there is a possibility of a "major spike" of infections, Dr Susan Turnbull said.

The medical officer of health emphasised viruses are "better at transferring" in winter months.

Dr Turnbull said: "The knowledge about how pandemics viruses behave is mostly based on flu viruses.

She emphasised that a "sting in the tail" resurgence of the virus was possible, as had happened after the 2009 flu epidemic.

"We can't rule out the possibility the coronavirus may behave in the same way.

"So I'm very, very pleased we've got the Nightingale hospital, just in case we ever need it. But I really hope we don't," Dr Turnbull added.

Jersey has reached its desired capacity for an average of 3,500 PCR tests per week, Chief Minister John Le Fondre said.

Senator Le Fondre said this represented a "significant increase" on where the island was and was "absolutely adequate" for what was needed.

He said this was the case even if an "increase of cases started coming through".

Mr Le Fondre confirmed on-island testing was kept as a "priority" for cases where urgency is important.

"Where the speed is less important, those can obviously be sent off-island."

Dentists fall into a "different category" to hairdressers and have been allowed to reopen because of people in "distress" and needing treatment, Jersey's medical officer of health has said.

Dr Susan Turnbull emphasised hairdressers and barbers would be opening in level two of lockdown release, which could come "reasonably soon".

The move to the next level is potentially a few weeks away "provided everything stays calm" and there is no "upsurge infections from the changes made in level three", she added.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre has said he does not believe a change in law regarding social distancing is "confusing" for islanders.

On Thursday the States made it legal again for people to enter another person's home, but the government says it "strongly advises" islanders against doing so.

"The balance has always been at what point does government interfere with what people can do in their own home.

"And there's a point which is around at what point is it proportional for the government to do so, and at what point is it proportional for government to stop doing so, and we believe that we've got to that latter point."

Senator Le Fondre said the government had come to this decision because of low levels of the virus in the island.

Deputy Richard Renouf said he did not believe it was right to continue to impose the "draconian" measures.

"It is wrong for the law still to be impinging on people's essential freedoms and their right of enjoyment to their own home."

The chief minister said there was also a "legal risk" an individual might have legally challenged the government for stopping them from having friends over.

He said it was now up to individual islanders to decide if and who they would allow in to their home.

"You don't usually allow strangers into your household. In other words you know who is coming in, and the householder is normally controlling who is coming into that house, and therefore that's where it comes back to personal choice and personal responsibility."

Jersey's medical officer of health Dr Susan Turnbull has said government guidance has not changed to islanders, but the law has.

It follows an agreement made by States members on Thursday that made it legal for islanders to enter another person's home.

"The law is no longer in place that makes it illegal, for all the reasons that the chief minister and the health minister have explained about disproportionate infringement on civil liberties.

"But we're still strongly encouraging people not to gather in each other's homes."

Dr Turnbull said this was because an asymptomatic carrier had a "quite high" chance of infecting other people inside a home.

Chief Minister John Le Fondre has said the government are "grappling" with the possibility of churches reopening.

He said he believed the decision to close had originally be made "as a whole" by the Church of England.

"That's one of the reasons why Jersey is in a difficult position from the perspective of not being able to ease in that area as quickly as we might like."

Health Minister Richard Renouf said places of worships were "not being ignored" and the government was in discussions with faith leaders.

Swab tests for coronavirus are being offered on a "proactive" basis to essential workers, Jersey's health minister has said.

Deputy Richard Renouf said the testing aimed to detect if there were any asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

"I would encourage all those who are eligible and offered PCR tests to take up the opportunity to have them.

"It may be briefly uncomfortable, but it is essential to keeping our vulnerable islanders safe," he said.

Antibody testing has also been expanded to essential workers and people who have worked away from the island during the crisis.

Some 3,300 tests had been carried out this week, Deputy Renouf said.

A testing scheme at the airport is also being trialed by the government, which will allow travellers arriving in Jersey to be tested for the virus.

This would allow individuals to reduce the amount of time they are required to self-isolate if they test negative, the health minister said.

Deputy Richard Renouf has reminded parents to ensure their children adhere to social distancing rules in public.

On Thursday the States agreed to make parents liable up to a £1,000 fine if they did not take "reasonable" steps to ensure a child in their care kept their distance from others.

The rules do not apply to homes, gardens or workplaces.

"The island is in a better place as a result of the vote," the Health Minister said.

"No government should impend on civil liberties for longer than necessary."

The number of active Covid-19 cases in Jersey has reached single figures, the health minister has announced.

Deputy Richard Renouf said the island's R rate, which measures the rate of infection, is below 0.4.

It means each infected person is predicted to infect less than one other person.

He said there had been only two new cases of coronavirus recorded in the last seven days and there were only five active cases in the island.

However, Deputy Renouf warned: "We're in a very fortunate position, but this is not a time for complacency."

Social distancing in another person's home has become a matter of "personal responsibility", Jersey's Chief Minister John Le Fondre has said.

It follows a change to the law which means islanders cannot be prosecuted for entering another person's home.

The 'Stay at Home' instruction is no longer in place, and there is no longer a legal limit on the amount of time islanders can spend outside of their homes, the chief minister said.

This includes no restrictions on the reasons why a person may be outside.

"But there is still a risk of the virus spreading," Senator Le Fondre said.

"We cannot, and must not, think that the risk to our community has disappeared."

He said public guidance remained for people to keep 2m (6ft) away from those outside of their household "wherever possible", and urged islanders to "think carefully" before entering the homes of others.

BBC Radio Jersey

A mother has said her son is "desperate" to go back to school and is calling for more classes to be opened.

She is calling for all children in Jersey to return to education.

Currently, some classes in Jersey will start returning to school from 8 June.

Pupils in their final year of primary school and in years 10 and 12 will be the first to return to school.

Sharon who has a son in year three says he is "desperate to get back to see his friends and teachers".

"They've missed ten weeks already, with the potential for another four weeks" she added.

BBC Radio Jersey

A teachers' union leader says the risk to children "is less" if they are in school, than out of school.

Marina Mauger of the NASUWT told the BBC the risk to children's mental health and well being will be reduced when they return to school.

She said the Medical Officer of Health had advised the Jersey government that "children are better in school than out of school".

But the union leader said parents should use their instincts to decided whether to send their children back.

Pupils in their final year of primary school and those in year 10 and 12 will be returning to school from 8 June.

There will be safety measures in place to ensure children and teachers remain safe.

BBC Radio Jersey

Jersey's government could take up to £150m from its reserves to cover the cost of helping islanders during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministers have allowed money to be taken from the Social Security Reserve Fund - currently worth £1.7bn - if required.

About £55m was being transferred initially, the States said, but ministers could move more this year if needed.

Social Security Minister Judy Martin said the reserve was still healthy enough to fund pensions in years to come.

Meanwhile, up to £500m in borrowing will be made available to help Jersey's economy through the coronavirus crisis, the government has announced.

The Treasury said the funds would be used for "bold fiscal stimulus measures" to support economic recovery.

The loans will be initially available for two years and are being provided by the Jersey branches of Barclays, Butterfield, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS International.

Older children returning to schools will be expected to respect social distancing even when in "bubbles", a senior education civil servant has confirmed.

Mark Rogers said: "We know that with older pupils they should be able to observe that 2m distance within the bubble.

"It's appropriate of us to expect that of 11, 15 and 17 year olds."

The director general of the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills acknowledged "flexibility" with younger children was needed.

Mr Rogers said public health advice meant they were able to allow for more contact between nursery, reception and other young children in school.

He said: "We have the reassurance that they're not the so-called super spreaders we thought they might have been."

Senator Tracey Vallois has said there are no plans to change term dates, as some year groups return to school from 8 June.

Mark Rogers, director general for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said teachers will weigh up students needs on an "individual and group level" to ensure they were comfortable in school.

He said this would be balanced with ensuring the academic curriculum was maintained.

"We want to keep to the rhythm of the school year because we think that is important.

"But I strongly suspect we will be wanting to make sure that over the summer break we will be providing enrichment activities," Mr Rogers said.

"We will be making sure there are things children can access that help them keep focused on their wellbeing and their readiness to learn so that coming back in September, whatever that looks like, doesn't feel like a standing start for them."

Guidance on how children can safely travel to and from school on public transport will be issued, the education minister has confirmed.

Senator Tracy Vallois said they were encouraging children to walk or cycle where possible, but safe travel advice for those who can't would be available online.

Senior civil servant Mark Rogers echoed Mrs Vallois' message, assuring islanders there "will be safe school transport".

Lessons would be learned from the retail sector while travelling to and inside schools, the director general of the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills said.

Mr Rogers said techniques like the "marking" of pavements" to ensure social distancing, and staggered starts, breaks and lunches, would be used in schools.

"Some of the things you've seen already are eminently transferable and in our guidance already," he added.

Jersey's medical director of health has said Covid-19 poses a "very low risk" to children.

Dr Susan Turnbull said "a huge number" of international studies showed children were not super-spreaders, and in fact appeared to spread the virus less than adults.

"Even more importantly, if children become infected with Covid, are extremely unlikely to get any significant symptoms. Any serious illness is an incredibly rare event," she said.

"Undoubtedly it is better for children to be back at school from the point of Covid."

Dr Turnbull said lockdown restrictions were also causing "collateral" damage to children's wellbeing.

"In a perfect world I would like every child to go back to school tomorrow."

Nearly half of children and young people Jersey are feeling "worried" by coronavirus, a new survey has revealed.

A total of 2,105 were asked about the pandemic in a survey commissioned by the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and the Children’s Commissioner.

The government has revealed the main findings from the confidential survey:

• 48% of children stated that they were feeling worried
• More than 80% of children said that they missed their friends
• About 95% of children felt safe at home, but a small number expressed concerns relating to Covid-19, home life, or wellbeing
• A small number also stated that family life was a worry
• A very small number concerned about domestic violence, alcohol use in the household and overcrowded housing

The survey also found about one third of children expressed some sort of concern, such as anxiety, sadness or over safety

Of these, anxiety was most common, affecting about 10% for primary children and 15-20% for older children.

Younger children were more likely to express sadness about going back to school, the government added.

About 8% of children of any age mentioned safety concerns.

Given Jersey’s school population, the government suggested this equates to about 2,000 children experiencing anxiety and 1,000 having safety concerns.

However, about 70% of children and young people knew who to reach out to for support, the survey concluded.

Teachers will not be forced to return to work in schools, the director general of the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills has said.

Mark Rogers said teachers would be given the opportunity to discuss their individual circumstances with their managers, and a risk assessment would be undertaken for each employee.

"I'm also really clear at this stage that some teachers and support staff will need to continue to shield," Mr Rogers said.

"There is going to be no 'one size fits all' approach to teaching staff at all."