A test of our strength as a community
IT HAS taken months but the waves of infection that first spread from Wuhan, China, late last year finally washed up on these shores yesterday.
Despite its inevitability, news of the first confirmed case of Covid-19 had a profound effect.
No longer was this a distressing item on the news, affecting people far away. It is very real and present.
That said, the need for perspective is paramount. This is one case, perhaps isolated. And while it is a serious virus with profound risks for many people, the general risk of infection remains very low.
While sensible precautions are only wise, and people are right to be concerned, there is no need for panic.
Nor is there much benefit in helping the spread of misinformation.
The Guernsey rumour mill was in full swing yesterday with health authorities and the Grammar School forced into correcting half-truths and distortions about the first case.
It was reminiscent at times of the HIV/Aids scares and witch-hunts of the 1980s.
Meanwhile, there is evidence from island supermarkets of the start of the needless panic buying seen in other affected countries.
As the islands’ director of public health stressed yesterday, the island has had months to prepare and it has robust measures in place.
However, the effectiveness of the Bailiwick’s response will come as much from the community at large as the health authorities.
By listening to professional advice, refusing to engage in ill-informed gossip and focusing on basic good hygiene, the islands will be much better able to cope with the weeks and months ahead.
Reports coming in from the UK and the worst-affected countries such as Italy and China indicate that there may be considerable disruption to people’s lives in prospect.
We are not there yet.
Some island businesses are already preparing for the worst with travel bans and split workforces.
But it is clear that this is an incremental process. In time there may be need for bans on public gatherings, sports crowds and rationing.
A single reported case is not, however, cause for the Bailiwick to go into lockdown.
Instead it is reason to feel huge sympathy for one islander and their family.