What happened to the seven-day self-isolation trial?

The CCA has been doing an outstanding job at laying out the strategy ahead and public communications... until recently. Something odd is now going on and the previously straight-talking team has changed tune.

The seven-day self-isolation trial, publicly backed and lauded by Gavin St Pier, Dr Nicola Brink and Heidi Soulsby, has been brought to an abrupt halt and will not be brought in until September at the earliest. The trial ended on 10 July, yet the decision was made on or before 9 July not to continue the seven-day self-isolation. So they made the decision before the trial ended – why? The results do not appear to have been analysed and have certainly not been explained in public.

Can the CCA please clarify this move?

The trial was either going to be extended, or the results assessed and a decision made on the basis of scientific data – Dr Brink’s fail-safe. Yet neither have happened, and this was conveniently glossed over at the press conference on 10 July.

All we got was a measly amount of information – it is so they can focus their efforts on reopening the borders for September. If so, why are they trying to set up air bridges with Iceland and the Faroe Islands? Surely this is a major distraction of resources, and ties the island into agreements that may not be helpful to it making independent decisions further down the line. Has a mistake been made with the Isle of Man agreement and we cannot drop to seven days? Can the CCA please publish a copy of said agreement?

Gavin St Pier referred to the Facebookers who want to keep the borders shut, almost to verify what he is telling us. Yet this social media activity represents just one segment of the population’s views and is not representative of the whole island. In any case, we just have to look to the Brexit debacle to know Joe Public’s opinion on critical issues are not always well informed. But I’m sure politicians’ popularity on social media for the upcoming elections takes priority.

With Europe and Jersey opening up and successfully managing spikes, I ask why is Guernsey now being left behind? Dr Brink will need to eat her words in a few months as a vaccine will not be ready, and even if it is, Guernsey will hardly be given priority access to it.

So, back to my original point, will Dr Brink and the rest of the CCA please confess – what happened to the seven-day self-isolation trial?

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD.