A man in his sixties who had Covid-19 has died at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

The fatality has been confirmed during Monday's government press conference.

The patient died on Sunday (14 February)  It is the first death in Guernsey during the 'second wave' of the pandemic.

"The States of Guernsey, the Civil Contingencies Authority, Health and Social Care staff and all those involved in the COVID-19 response would like to express their sympathies to the friends and family for whom this will be an impossibly tragic time."

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, Chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority has expressed his personal sorrow:

“There really are no words to describe how awful this news is. We may have felt like the virus couldn’t hurt us again here in Guernsey, where we lived a near-normal life for so many months before the current lockdown. But it can, and now it has. To the family of the man whose life is lost, I can only express my very deepest and heartfelt condolence, though I’m sure that is of little comfort right now.

I hope we do not see any more lives lost to COVID-19, but the danger this virus presents is serious. If there was any doubt of the importance of staying at home, reporting symptoms and taking every possible precaution, there should be none now. This is how we protect the lives of those we love and we must maintain our resolve to see it through.”

During the first wave of infection, there were 13 confirmed Covid-19 deaths in Guernsey, including two in hospital, and three deaths presumed to have been caused by coronavirus.

The number of known active cases of Covid-19 has dropped below 200, to 176.

Four new cases were found on Sunday and 29 people recovered.  Seven people are in hospital with the infection.

The CCA will meet on Tuesday to discuss the planned exit from lockdown, and will make an announcement at Wednesday's media briefing.

The authorities have previously indicated a move to Stage 1 in Guernsey would not begin until 18 February.