Coronavirus: Antibody Testing Begins This Weekend

Wednesday, 29 April 2020 17:52

Jersey's Government says it will begin testing islanders for COVID-19 antibodies as soon as this weekend.

The community testing programme will be conducted at random, with selected households contacted by letter and phone from this evening.

These people will be offered an appointment for a test at one of three centres across the island between Saturday 2 May and Tuesday 5 May.

It's a single finger pin-prick blood test, using a single drop of blood, with results ready in ten minutes.

They will identify whether someone has previously had coronavirus and developed an immunity to it.

The same 500 households (or roughly 1,500 people) will be tested every four weeks - with anonymised results used to form an island-wide picture of how coronavirus is spreading.

More information on the antibody testing programme is due to be announced tomorrow.

Coronavirus Advice

If you think you might have the virus, you should self-isolate and call the Health Department's coronavirus helpline:

01534 445566

It's open every day between 8am and 8pm. Calls outside these times, or when the line is engaged, won't be answered straight away - but we're told to leave a message and Health officials will call you back.

Please don't visit your GP or the Emergency Department at the General Hospital if you think you have the virus.

Coronavirus symptoms are similar to that of the flu - a combination of a cough, fever and aching muscles. If you've had any symptoms, even if you haven't travelled abroad, we're being told to self-isolate until they clear up (for a minimum of seven days).

Anyone who has come into contact with a person confirmed to have the coronavirus should stay in self-isolation for at least 14 days.

All the latest information can be found on Gov.je.