CCA – we need to get back to Covid basics

Since last Monday, 2,077 new cases have been identified, taking the total number of active cases to 2,574. There are likely more cases in the community that are unknown or unreported.

The previous peak was just over 2,400 cases in January.

The worst affected age group is five to 14-year-olds, with more than 500 cases.

There are currently nine people in hospital with a recent Covid diagnosis, and there are concerns that the island’s essential infrastructure is severely strained.

CCA chairman Peter Ferbrache said when legal restrictions were removed last month, it was made clear that Covid-19 had not gone away and that the community needed to continue doing the right things.

‘While we have sought to continue communicating those key messages during the last month, it has been clear that a significant portion of the community have relaxed to the point of no longer doing the basics that we have all become familiar with in the last two years – wearing face coverings where needed, staying at home when unwell, and taking sensible precautions like good hygiene and giving people space,’ he said.

‘We are now at a point where it is really essential that the community supports these measures with some urgency so we can reduce the spread of the virus and the impact it is having on essential services and the island’s businesses more widely.’

Bus services continue to be severely hit, with more than 30 cancelled yesterday after Covid affected drivers. Half of schools have reported staffing concerns and hospital services are stretched.

While all services are coping at this stage, the situation is challenging.

In light of ballooning cases it is strongly recommended that face coverings are worn in enclosed spaces and businesses should adopt continuity plans to enable increased home-working.

Anyone feeling unwell or with Covid-19 should stay home.

Lateral flow tests should be done regularly and household contacts of cases should test daily and limit their contacts.

Indoor spaces should be well-ventilated and islanders should respect people’s personal space.

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink said Guernsey had to collectively take action to help alleviate that Covid-19 pressures.

‘We have seen in recent days the hospital coming under increasing pressure, due to the combination of a busy period in terms of admissions and large numbers of staff who are off with Covid-19.

‘But the hospital is not the only critical service that is struggling at the moment, as we know from colleagues in Education that schools are dealing with significant staffing pressures, as are other public services.’