One case of the South African new variant was identified during analysis of coronavirus test results.

Health Minister David Ashford told a Covid briefing yesterday (Thursday) that we are only as safe as the last person across the border.

’It only takes one person to deviate from the rules to cause a widespread outbreak,’ he warned.

He confirmed that no new cases of Covid have been detected and the island has now gone 23 days without a new case of community transmission.

The number of active cases is down to eight.

Public health director Dr Henrietta Ewart said genomic sequencing has shown that so far we have had five cases of the UK Kent new variant of the virus in the island and one case of the South African variant.

All were identified in travellers and had been contained through the self-isolation and testing regimes.

Door-to-door 'surge testing' is being carried out in various parts of the UK after cases of the more infectious South African variant were detected.

’For anybody who is under a direction notice for whatever reason, particularly as a traveller, it really is imperative they obey that to the letter as we really do not want community spread of any Covid-19 but particularly any of the new variants,’ Dr Ewart said.

Mr Ashford said the island’s vaccination roll-out continues ’at a pace’.

As of 2.30pm yesterday, 7,776 first dose vaccines and 2,183 second dose vaccines had been completed - a total of 9,959 vaccines delivered.

He said: ’We have now vaccinated 79% of all residents in care homes and their carers, 67% of all the over 80’s and health and care workers.’

Letters have now started to go out inviting those over the age of 75 for their vaccinations.

Mr Ashford said he was expecting there to be disruption in coming weeks with the Pfizer vaccine supply as Pfizer looks to expand its Belgian plants production capacity.

But he said: ’This will not halt our vaccine roll-out as we have in stock all second doses required for those who have already had the Pfizer vaccine and we will be continuing apace with available supplies of Oxford AstraZeneca.’

No one has had a serious reaction directly related to the vaccine, he told reporters.