Health staff in Jersey will have to report any suspected cases of the coronavirus to the public health officials.
The Health Minister, Deputy Richard Renouf, has made it a 'notifiable disease' - meaning doctors, nurses and carers need to make the Medical Officer of Health aware of anyone suspected of having the disease.
He says it's a reasonable step to ensure the island is able to quickly respond to the virus if it develops here:
"The move to make changes to the existing law are to ensure that we take every reasonable step to ensure that our health services can respond quickly to suspected cases of Covid-19.
"This latest step is part of our wider plans in readiness to reduce the transmission of the virus and level of illness in the increasingly likely event that we start to see cases of Covid-19 in Jersey."
The new changes to the law come into effect from Saturday 7th March.
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.
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