Deputies call for return of daily Covid statistics
CALLS for daily Covid-19 statistics to return are being made by a number of deputies.
The States moved to weekly statistics a month ago, publishing them on Tuesdays. And it has confirmed that, despite opposition, it has no plans to go back to publishing case numbers daily.
Moving to weekly reporting of case numbers had been a ‘bad idea’, said Health & Social Care member Aidan Matthews.
He said Jersey and the UK still published daily figures.
Describing mandatory measures as a ‘last resort,’ he said: ‘At the moment the best thing is to provide as much information to people’.
Deputy Matthews felt that the island should be more active in keeping case numbers down.
‘Even if we get fewer serious cases and deaths from a high case load, it causes all sorts of disruption in the island. There is a cumulative effect,’ he said.
Deputy Matthews said that he had spoken to Public Health about case numbers.
‘They know the number is larger than the reported cases because there is going to be substantial under-reporting.’
Deputy David De Lisle said the rise in Covid infections was a serious situation.
‘The numbers have gone up so rapidly that I think we should return to what we had which was a daily tally so people can respond accordingly,’ he said.
He thought the Civil Contingencies Authority should have communicated the rising figures to the public earlier.
‘This is not leadership. The numbers have to be published daily again to inform the public and announcements on radio need to be reinstated.
‘The information has to be regularly communicated in order to safeguard the public,’ said Deputy De Lisle.
Deputy Yvonne Burford said that in her view, the CCA was ‘absolutely right’ to seek to flatten the number of cases.
‘But I have doubts as to whether their appeal will have a sufficient effect,’ she said.
‘People on social media are commenting about employment situations where the employee will lose pay if they do not go in to work and that puts them in a difficult situation. As there is no mandatory isolation it’s understandable why some who have Covid might continue working.
‘What is clear is that there are now a wide range of views across the community and no course of action will please everyone or possibly even a majority.’
CCA chairman Peter Ferbrache said managing the Bailiwick’s response to Covid-19 was not easy.
‘While we welcome challenge, whether that be from our colleagues in the States or members of the public, as that is a healthy sign of a democratic society, the CCA makes decisions based on evidence and expert advice,’ he said.
‘We are trying to move forward and live responsibly with a virus that will likely be around for a long time to come.’
He hoped the public would heed the current strong advice.
