WATCH: 'First Covid-19 death is sobering for the Bailiwick - stay inside' Lt-Governor says
HIS Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey Sir Ian Corder has expressed his heartfelt sympathies to the family and friends of the first patient who died suffering from the Covid-19 infection.
'Please know that the thoughts of all of us are with you today,' he said.
'This is a sobering moment for our Bailiwick.
'Secretly, I suspect, some might still have hoped that it would not come and that, somehow, the worst of this global pandemic might pass our islands by. But in our hearts most of us knew this would not be the case. Sadly that is confirmed today and, whilst we must always hope, the reality is that this death is unlikely to be the last.
'The next few weeks are going to be difficult for all of us.'
Alluding to The Queen's public message from a few weeks ago, His Excellency Sir Ian said the history of our Bailiwick in adversity bears proud testament to bringing communities together and concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.
'And through such combined efforts we are much better placed to manage the consequences of this outbreak than we were, even a matter of a few weeks ago.
'I pay particular tribute to our government, our officials, our health professionals and all our emergency services who have done, and continue to do all that they humanly can to ensure we have made the best possible preparations for the difficult days ahead.'
He also paid tribute to those in the community who have responded with discipline and stoicism to the unprecedented but essential restrictions that have been placed on our everyday lives.
'These efforts have bought us valuable time and will make a real difference in inhibiting the progress of the disease.'
Sir Ian expressed confidence that once this period is over, these measures will have significantly reduced the risk of the virus, especially to the most vulnerable in our community.
'However, as today’s news shows, we must do more. Our immediate destiny lies in the continued ability of all of us to respond collectively and as individuals.
'It remains vital that we continue to put our responsibilities to others before personal comfort and convenience. The next few months are going to test our island spirit to the limit.'
He urged islanders to keep faith in the island's leadership, health professionals, emergency services and those who are keeping food shops open, as well as our broader public and voluntary services.
'Trust and support them; they will not fail us,' he said.
'Keep faith in the global scientific effort to develop and distribute a vaccine and other treatments. Huge resources are being focused on this, and it will happen.
'But most of all, we need to keep faith in ourselves and each other.'
Recognising that islanders must distance themselves physically, he said we must not be distant emotionally, nor in terms of our respect and concern for one another.
Though the sense of this first loss was raw and islanders are all concerned for the future, Sir Ian ended his address to the Bailiwick with some words of Victor Hugo.
'Even the darkest night will end… And the sun will rise.'
