Travel restrictions bring anger on social media

On the new States map of the incidence rate of Covid-19 across the country, most regions are marked as category three, which will require a week’s isolation.

Only a handful are marked as green, category two, including Jersey and the Isle of Man, Scotland, Wales and the south-west of England.

Travellers from these areas will have to take a test on arrival and will not have to isolate if it is negative.

Areas with cases at or below 30 per 100,000 are category two, but many people have called for the areas to be smaller.

London is cited as being at 20 cases per 100,000 for the last two weeks yet is zoned as category three under the criteria used by the States.

The States’ figures are based on the prevalence over a 14-day period and this has come in for heavy criticism since these are said to be a different mechanism to that used by the World Health Organization, Jersey and other places.

Civil Contingencies Authority adviser Heidi Soulsby waded into the row on the States’ Facebook page and said that all would be made clear at a press briefing today. ‘Dr Brink will provide clear explanation on Friday and further info will be published,’ she said.

It was pointed out that a statement made by States chief executive Paul Whitfield at a press briefing stated that the whole of the UK was expected to be category two by today and people had booked trips based on this, which was one reason for the anger.

Among the unhappy people was Alderney resident Ian Taylor, who told the Guernsey Press that he had booked for his wife to fly over today after being at their home on the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border.

The Covid rate there was 18 per 100,000 from 19-25 April and 20.4 per 100,000 from 26 April-2 May but the region is amber, or category 3, on the States’ map.

Because Mrs Taylor might be required to fly home at any moment due to her mother being ill, the couple were not prepared to isolate for seven days.

‘Today I moved her flights back to the end of May,’ Mr Taylor said. ‘My issue is that all the data available to the public does not back the decision made by the CCA.’

Deputy Soulsby said that these categories were ‘just for a few weeks’.

‘It’s an interim period we could’ve not bothered with, but felt it proportionate to do so,’ she wrote in response to one angry Facebook user.

The majority of people who responded to a recent survey by the Institute of Directors said they would continue to use Gatwick to travel to London, said chairwoman Wendy Dorey.

‘While we wait to hear Friday’s update from the CCA regarding the isolation requirements for regions in the UK, the business community are likely to be mindful of Guernsey’s competitive position as the UK relaxes its Covid restrictions,’ she said.

It was important that the island was perceived as ‘open for business’ at what she said was a critical stage of economic recovery. She also said it was important that there was transparency about how decisions were being made.

Aurigny said it had seen a noticeable increase in customers cancelling or changing flights since the announcement that most of the UK was in category three, but those who cancelled a flight up to two days in advance will get a credit voucher for the booking’s full value and will not incur a fee.

‘Throughout the pandemic customers have cancelled or changed flights at short notice in much greater numbers than they would normally,’ said a spokeswoman.

‘We look forward to welcoming passengers on board again soon and expect our numbers to increase as more regions move into category two.’

No States cost from Gatland

NO EXPENSES were incurred by the States when British & Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland visited over Easter to recce the local facilities.

Mr Gatland was allowed to skip the 14-day quarantine requirement, and he met 10 people for sandwiches at Footes Lane, and a further group of 10 for a dinner at St Pierre Park Hotel.

The details have emerged in response to questions put by Deputy Gavin St Pier to the Civil Contingencies Authority.

The Footes Lane lunch involved possible sponsors and chief minister Deputy Peter Ferbrache, States chief executive Paul Whitfield, Dr Nicola Brink, the director of Public Health, and the director of operations for Education, Sport & Culture.

The evening meal was attended by representatives from the Guernsey rugby community, including Mr Whitfield.