Thread by @GBCNewsroom

Today's speaker at the Government's daily Covid briefing is the Chief Minister, @FabianPicardo. You can watch it live on
@GBCTVGibraltar, online at gbc.gi or listen in on @RadioGibraltar Plus 10.5FM/1458MW

Number of people tested: 13% of population, roughly. 147 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since mid February. 4 current active cases.

1 ERS carer (asymptomatic) is one of active cases, swabbed as part of frontline testing. Whole floor swabbed.

Government has approved final phase of Unlock the Rock strategy. Phase 2 begins next week.

CM: will be moving from restricting movement by compulsion, to more targeted restrictions. 12 days from relaxation start, no exponential growth in infections. On track to enter Phase 2 in week of 18th May. On 21st May, further relaxation of restrictions of movement.

Advice will remain the same. Over-70s, immunosuppressed and obese most at risk, according to emerging data, says CM.

CM: Document shared with Leader of Opposition, who has shared with shadow cabinet. Have provided significant feedback.

CM: preparing document has been "devilishly complicated". May have to stop or accelerate progress depending on spread of virus or possible cure.

CM: we locked down in "light version" of lockdowns seen elsewhere, to prevent deaths.

Director of Public Health, Dr Sohail Bhatti, has been "leading voice" during this emergency, has detailed intro to document, says CM.

CM: phase 2 will start on 18th May. Will start to see return of some museums, libraries, exhibitions. Lifting of some laws against free movement from 21st May, if things progressing well. 2 key caveats: advice continues to be safer to stay at home, & rules about large gatherings.

CM: expect commercial gyms to be able to reopen in this phase. Return to parliamentary activity with meeting of Parliament on 28th May. Return of construction works within dwellings, subject to strict rules.

Phase 3 starts 1st June. Expect to see return of religious worship subject to strict distancing controls. Return of public transport with new arrangements where relevant. Some arts performances permitted without live audience (for filming for TV).

16th June: bars and cafes, after restaurants (under strict conditions). Do not want to see restrictions on beaches, but this will require common sense. No crowding round shore and best spots.

CM: will be working to offer over-70s who would like these, exclusive areas. Europa Pool & bathing pavilion at GASA being considered for exclusive over-70s use. Next phases will focus on reviewing conditions for bars and restaurants.

CM: hoping to unlock the Rock towards autumn. At that phase that funerals and weddings etc attendance should be more normal, but could have some restrictions on total numbers.

CM: reserving position on quarantine as these matters are reciprocal. Talking to UK and Spain. Not yet able to fix views entirely yet.

CM: education, health, justice dealt with in detail in document. Also return of sports. Aggressive contact tracing dealt with in detail in document.

CM: not publishing document today as final adjustments being made by Cabinet, and as UK delaying publication of own document till later today.
Hope to be able to move away from laws restricting freedom of movement; linking rules for over- and under-70s.

CM: everything is constantly changing, so phases may have to change. So hoping to give you as much clarity as possible. Over 50 press conferences since this started; thanks to media and in particular GBC as national broadcaster.

CM, in response to question on how public expected to heed advice, esp as Minister for Health pictured in grouping: element of common sense needed, and stop nonsense of criticising people seen in one moment. "Dystopian", says CM.

CM: must not be within metre and a half of someone for more than 15 minutes. People of Gibraltar have been heroes of this crisis as have understood substance of advice.

CM: some of the nonsense on social media is remarkable, people allowing stupidity to run riot once again.

CM, on contact with Spain: about possibility of Gibraltar having same benefits as others have had regarding certain borders. A lot of staycations in many countries: possibility of element of tourism into Gibraltar this summer, something we have to ensure is safe.

CM: This will be reciprocal: Spain will want to see Gibraltarians spending in Campo.

CM, on allowing family members to congregate: numbers of people gathering probably to be restricted to about 10 in future. Will want people to note who they met with for purposes of potential contact tracing.

CM: this will be part of what happens in Phase 2, commencing 18th May. Anticipate lifting restriction on free movement on 21st May. But will be tying over 70s regulations to under 70s (no longer distinction). Provide for restriction on how people can gather across ages.

CM, on restricted permission to cross frontier: prefer a more open approach with Spanish authorities if able to reach agreement.

CM, on Hillsides visits: ERS has been protected by strict controls. Understand yearning to see relatives, but these rules designed to protect their lives. If we allow virus into ERS, will bring death.

CM, on quarantine announcement by UK and whether Gibraltar to be exempted: nobody in UK government knows how they might implement what they've said they might implement. We are watching the UK govt's decisions, feeding back Gib views.

CM: empirically, Gibraltar would have to protect itself against arrivals from UK, not vice versa. Expect common sense will prevail. Would also be reciprocal: quarantine on both sides. If make exception for France, difficult to explain discrimination against Gibraltar.

CM: haven't mentioned hotels because we haven't closed them. 4 hotels continue in operation. Will see how to help them through this period. May be there needs to be hotel assistance scheme.

CM, on possibility of second wave: have to be very careful to prevent one. Whilst one individual with COVID, if not properly confined, could find ourselves facing return of the virus.

CM, on restaurants and bars: restaurants will open in phase 3 (permit system in place), and may review in phase 5. Bars will reopen in phase 4, also with constraints and reviewed in phase 6.

CM, on quarantine: if look at what UK initially said in briefings, not in statement, countries exempt just those exempt from immigration controls today (e.g. Ireland and Channel Islands).

CM: what PM said yesterday was different to what had been briefed for previous 8 days. EU obligations and arrangements for France. Gibraltar making representations to UK.

CM, on contact tracing app: going to pursue its own app, opting for decentralised model, iOS/Android. Hope to be able to roll it out by end of May.

CM: hope we'll be able to see the phases taking effect without having to go into reverse gear. Hope is we're moving forward. Not changing our advice: safest place to be is home, stay there unless you have to go out.