New captain vows to keep ship on course

Those who had pinned their hopes for a radical change in border policy on a re-constituted Civil Contingencies Authority got short shrift in yesterday’s briefing.

In his first public appearance as the new CCA chair, Peter Ferbrache made it clear that the plan for now was steady as she goes.

Islanders rattled by the political turmoil and changes in leadership following the elections will have breathed a sigh of relief.

They will also have welcomed the reassuring presence of Deputy Heidi Soulsby, back as an advisor for the foreseeable future.

The former Health & Social Care president’s seat at the table was an important element of continuity in the battle to quieten social media gossips carelessly spreading misinformation and alarm.

‘There is no need to panic,’ Deputy Ferbrache said – many times.

And of course there isn’t.

The closure of the air bridge to the Isle of Man is desperately disappointing for those families hoping to enjoy half term away but if the new cluster can be contained and the risk of further spread of Covid-19 eliminated then the link might be restored if Aurigny can be persuaded it is worthwhile.

Of more importance is the decision to stick with the move to Phase 5c from Wednesday.

Given high prevalence rates across the UK and France it is not a relaxation of border controls at this stage. Nowhere lies within Category 2, where incoming passengers from places with less than 30 cases per 100,000 can leave lockdown and move into ‘enhanced passive follow-up’ on receipt of a negative test result.

Once those rates come down, however, it will be easier to get on and off the island. The question is how quickly that will happen.

Regardless, by that time the effect of on-arrival testing on the island’s capacity to control its borders will be better understood.

And with up to 2,000 tests possible in a single day the island has the tools to get this disease back in its box.