Why continue with this senseless use of masking?

It is indeed no coincidence that since we introduced mask wearing, either voluntary or mandatory, our local figures have gone through the roof – people who are testing positive, mostly with mild symptoms if any at all.

Yes the vaccine roll out, both here and in the UK, was a success and that should have been the end of it. However, we now know differently – and there is this reluctance by the media to just let this go away, which in turn affects political decision-making.

Why continue with this senseless use of masking? The reason is simple. Governments have no other way, other than a vaccine programme, to appease the fearful – and one might ask, why are they fearful? Well I for one know the answer to that one.

Of course, let us not forget the handing out of test kits and the insistence that we test ourselves twice a week or whenever we have a sniffle or cough. What on earth did our ‘experts’, who cleverly thought of this splendid idea, actually think it was going to achieve? Did it not even cross their minds that this would manipulate the infection figures in an upwards direction? Well hats off to them, they have achieved the notoriety that they most surely sought.

The indications are the latest variant, although thought to be more transmissible, is indeed far weaker in its effect – and we have a large proportion of our vulnerable population across Britain vaccinated.

It most certainly is now time to stop this Covid obsession. Our government is making a mockery of our vaccination programme – paid for by all of us, I might add.

Stop the testing, stop the ‘let’s-spread-fear’ reporting, stop the daily infection figures – and please, please just let us all get on with our lives in freedom.

MERCER TILL

Deputy Peter Ferbrache, chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority, responds:

‘Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your reader. I would firstly assure him that the CCA and the States would not wish to spread fear any more than it wants to spread the virus that causes Covid-19 itself. What we should all seek to do is spread the facts, even when the fact is a case of acknowledging that there are uncertainties because data is still being gathered, as is the case right now with the emergence of the Omicron variant. By spreading the facts, and helpful guidance, our community can make informed choices, and that is essentially what we mean when we talk about living responsibly with Covid-19.

The reality, unfortunately, is not so simple as to just say ‘we’ve had the vaccine, now it’s done’, as much as we wish it were so. One of the things we do know about Omicron is that without a booster, we are less protected, and hence our recent drive to rapidly boost as many people as possible – a drive that has been very successful so far, and my thanks to all those working to boost our community, and all those who’ve chosen to be boosted.

Face coverings are also evidenced to reduce transmission. It is not true to say they make no difference. Outside of masks, in certain settings, there are next to no mandatory requirements on our community – far fewer than many other jurisdictions, as some of our European neighbours are already locking down again.

And while we cannot guarantee that similar measures would not be necessary here in the future as we learn more about Omicron, it is not something we’re currently considering and we would only consider it if it became absolutely necessary to protect our health service, the health and wellbeing of islanders, as well as our critical national infrastructure. I say that not to make anyone afraid, but it is meant to be honest and to keep islanders informed.

We do not seek to spread fear. Covid-19 for the vast majority is a mild illness, it’s clear from our hospital numbers that the vaccine has been very effective at preventing serious illness, and the evidence suggests a booster can again afford good protection against symptomatic disease with Omicron. But we must also not be governed by frustration, because no matter how fed up we feel, the pandemic is not over and the new variant at this time creates uncertainties that we should not ignore. So let us not be governed by fear, or frustration, but by facts – and given the time of year, a little bit of goodwill too.’