No one-size-fits-all rule for critical workers

The clarification comes from Health & Social Care following questions from the Guernsey Press about one of the active cases of Covid-19 that has been identified in the Bailiwick.

On Sunday, the States updated its daily Covid-19 statistics report.

Referring to one of the cases which was identified on Saturday, it said: ‘In the interest of clarity, the [information] about new cases from yesterday [Saturday] has been updated: Of the two that tested positive [on Saturday], one was a day-of-arrival positive and one was a critical worker who tested positive on day three.’

Every critical worker application for an essential service is reviewed in line with the process and conditions set by the Civil Contingencies Authority.

The Bailiwick needs critical workers to carry out work where skills or resources are not available on-island.

In the case of health and care services, there are occasions where services cannot be run safely without them.

‘Throughout the pandemic, anyone coming to the Bailiwick as a critical worker has had their own individualised isolation and testing regime put in place depending on the role they are carrying out and the risk,’ HSC said.

‘Assessment of critical worker applications always includes consideration of alternative options, such as training staff on-island or remote working.’

The process to assess risk has been in place for several months now and is reviewed and updated regularly.

‘Method statements are in place to control the risks and any positive cases identified are handled appropriately,’ HSC added.

‘Where critical workers are utilised, typical components of a method statement would include use of masks, separation of any co-workers, isolation of individual(s) when not in the workplace and controls on travel between a hotel and the place of work.

‘The fact that a positive case has been identified in this way means that the process is working as it is meant to.’