Mask rules scrapped as CCA relaxes regulations
MANDATORY mask wearing has been scrapped as part of a relaxation of Covid rules, following a rapid decline in case numbers.
From today, staff and students will no longer be legally required to wear face coverings in classrooms and islanders can enter shops without donning a mask.
The announcement was made at a Civil Contingencies Authority briefing yesterday evening, at the end of what the director of Public Health described as ‘an exciting day’.
‘It’s exciting times,’ said Dr Nicola Brink.
‘We’re moving forward and I think we need to do that with hope and optimism.’
From today, those who have tested positive for Covid will be able to go about their business on day six, after five days of isolation, provided their lateral flow test results are negative on days five and six and they remain symptom-free.
In addition, there is no longer any obligation to follow enhanced passive follow-up rules up until day 10. However, those who have recently tested positive are still being asked to think carefully about visiting vulnerable people, attending crowded settings and returning to work.
Similarly, all islanders are being asked to consider the continued use of face coverings in crowds, where appropriate, and to ensure they isolate if displaying symptoms.
Setting out the rationale behind the relaxation of restrictions, Dr Brink highlighted the effects of the population having taken up the vaccine and booster programme and she thanked islanders for their support.
She said the first wave in March 2020, before vaccines had been developed, had seen 252 cases, which had led to 16 deaths.
The second wave, by contrast, had led to one death from 511 cases, while the third produced 4,364 cases and resulted in seven deaths.
The Omicron wave, which is ongoing, has produced 5,792 cases and has led to five deaths.
As the Bailiwick moves further toward living with the virus, the vaccination programme will continue but testing will begin to focus more on individual outbreaks.
‘We’re making decisions in an informed way, knowing exactly what our risk profile is,’ Dr Brink said.
‘We’re going to see future cases. We’re going to see outbreaks of Covid and we are going to see future waves of infection. We need to be very realistic, open, honest and transparent with the community.’
Dr Brink announced that two cases of a new variant known as BA.2 had been confirmed last week in Guernsey.
It is still under investigation and has not yet been designated as a variant of concern. She said there was, as yet, no evidence that it was more virulent than Omicron.
CCA chairman Peter Ferbrache said the onus was still on keeping people safe but the changes were timely.
‘Human beings are social creatures and we’ve got to balance the risk of illness with our ability to socialise, to see our family and friends and to make sure the economy can run and people can run their businesses.’
