Cause of Covid cluster "identified and contained"

Wednesday 04 November 2020

Public Health has identified the source of the current cluster of Covid-19 cases, but said it would be counter-productive to divulge confidential information about the index case.

Health & Social Care has been trying to establish who was the index case in the current cluster and how they picked up the virus since the first case was discovered on 19 October.

A fortnight later, having investigated "various lines of inquiry", the Public Health Team is now confident that it knows the source of the cluster. In a public statement, HSC said there is "no reason for the community to be concerned" about the prospect of continued infection.

"We are now in a position to confirm that we believe we have identified the source of the infection and that all necessary retrospective steps have been taken to ensure that the spread of Covid-19 has been identified and contained."

A new case of COVID-19 has been identified. They were an incoming traveller who self-isolated on arrival and were tested on day 7.
We still have 13 (known) active cases of COVID-19 in the Bailiwick as there has been a recovery overnight.
Visit https://t.co/YpWbg8u3AS for more. pic.twitter.com/71iaubyoz4

— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) November 4, 2020

"10 positive cases were identified in this cluster – six were related to a specific venue (which was not the source of the original infection), six were family members and one was a work colleague (again not the source of the original infection). We can also confirm that the source of the infection was not a student."

HSC said it is "unable to provide any more information" as it is "essential that we respect confidentiality and establish a rapport with positive cases".

"To do otherwise would impact on the efficacy of our contact tracing."

Since 21 September, Public Health has tested nearly 3,000 symptomatic people in the community and none of these individuals have tested positive.