All cruise ships to Guernsey have been cancelled until the end of April at the earliest due to the latest coronavirus travel measures. The first cruise ship of the season was the Fridtjof Nansen which was meant to have arrived on March 20. However, it was cancelled earlier in the month following the advice from Guernsey’s Public Health.
Now, nine other cruise liners that would have docked in Guernsey in April have been cancelled.
Three others have also cancelled their visits in May, with many more expected to follow suit.
The largest marina facility in the British Isles, Guernsey Harbours said in a statement: “Due to the global outbreak of Covid-19, travel restrictions imposed by the States of Guernsey require all persons arriving in the Bailiwick from anywhere else in the world to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.
“These restrictions mean that all cruise ship calls are currently cancelled until 30 April at the earliest.
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“We wholeheartedly wish you well in the coming months and hope we will have the opportunity to welcome you on board with us again as soon as the situation has improved.”
The Channel Islands include Jersey and Guernsey and are in the English Channel of the French coast of Normandy.
Although not a part of the UK, the UK is responsible for the defence and international relations of the islands.
Jersey’s Deputy Chief Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham said that the small island nation could follow the UK and go into lockdown but hasn’t as of yet.
The Manx government confirmed on Twitter that all schools on the island would be closed by the end of March 23.
The small island between The United Kingdom and Ireland has had 13 confirmed cases so far.
However, the Isle of Man has not confirmed a full lockdown like that of the United Kingdom.
Guernsey has seen a rapid increase in coronavirus cases after 20 positive tests were recorded.
Guernsey’s most senior politician Gavin St Pier, president of the Policy and Resources Committee said yesterday that an island-wide lockdown is not the answer to covid-19.
According to Guernsey Press he said: “We have already understandably seen an increase in mental health issues in the last few weeks.
“Perversely, social distancing risks substantial social isolation and all that follows in terms of increased alcohol and drug dependency, depression and anxiety resulting in more suicide, self-harming, domestic violence and divorce.
“Social isolation will damage us all and potentially create a longer term social problem to add to our more immediate public health and economic problems.”
