Accept the "new normal"

Wednesday 18 March 2020

The "small number of people" who have been ignoring Public Health's advice on corona virus are being urged to change their "unacceptable, selfish behaviour".

Although many people have been following the frequently updated advice, some have not been taking the situation seriously.

"The community should have assurance that every effort is being made to ensure that we are prepared for the weeks and months ahead," said President of Health & Social Care, Deputy Heidi Soulsby. "However, we can't do it alone and will only have a chance of being able to cope if we work together. We, as a community, have to step up to the plate too. It's important that we all heed the advice of Dr Brink [Director of Public Health] and her team.

Pictured: Deputy Heidi Soulsby giving an update on HSC's plans.

"The reality is, that's what the vast majority of us are doing right now; ensuring we up our game when it comes to basic hygiene, finding alternative ways of greeting instead of shaking hands and maintaining social distance. Others have been self isolating and yet more have been offering to support our more vulnerable members of society. Thank you one and all.

"However, sadly there have been a very small number of people who have been ignoring Public Health advice. This selfish behaviour is deemed completely unacceptable, putting the lives of others at risk and we can't allow that to continue."

As part of the island's new containment measures, which were announced at a live streamed media briefing yesterday, the Director of Public Health and her team will be given the right to enforce testing, isolation and detention of anyone they suspect could be infected.

"Because covid-19 will be with us for a long time, there are basic things that every islander must now get used to," added Policy & Resources President, Deputy Gavin St Pier.  "These measures alone will reduce the number of cases by 60% and that is why it is so important that everyone must comply. It's not about protecting you, it's about protecting others.

"It's quite possible that we will see school and other closures in the UK, Jersey or other jurisdictions and it's quite understandable but inappropriate for our community to be looking to other places as a guide for what our island needs at this stage in the disease's progression. Islanders really must ignore what's happening elsewhere and rely on gov.gg as their source of reliable information.

"Please do not spread gossip or information from social media."

Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier giving an update.

After today, anyone travelling to the island from anywhere in the world will be put into mandatory self isolation for 14 days.

"As a community with huge resilience - and we have some tough times ahead - we will get through this," Deputy St Pier continued. "I am hugely humbled and impressed by the rallying of islanders to support each other.

"We will remain in this high risk state for some time to come, but there is only so much that government can to plan and prepare. The success of this plan will largely now come down to the individual actions of quite literally each and every member of our community to comply with the advice we have given.

"The responsibility on each one of us is huge, but if we remain disciplined, follow the practical precautions to protect ourselves and our family, we will be able to keep our economy going and we will be able to maintain a semblance of new normal daily life until this crisis is finally over."

More information and advice on the virus is available here.

Pictured top: A panel formed to give an update on Guernsey's corona virus situation. L-R: Mark de Garis, Deputy Heidi Soulsby, Deputy Gavin St Pier, Dr Nicola Brink, Paul Whitfield and Jason Moriarty.