CCA's pre-travel testing decision made independent of STAC advice

Thursday 29 July 2021

The Civil Contingencies Authority’s decision last week to test incoming ‘blue travelers’ prior to their arrival was made without the backing of the Scientific Technical Advisory Cell.

STAC has been instrumental in backing up decisions made by the CCA by advising them alongside Public Health and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

The group consists of medical professionals, including Guernsey’s Medical Director Dr Peter Rabey, who meet weekly to discuss the latest developments with vaccines and covid.

Despite this, the Head of the CCA has revealed that STAC wasn’t consulted on the latest decision, as the group was set to meet the following Tuesday [27 July].

“We didn’t have the chance to,” said Deputy Ferbrache.

Pictured: “We made the decision without the imprimatur of STAC,” said Deputy Ferbrache.

The CCA has since reneged on that original decision, instead forcing incoming travellers to buy a pack of five lateral flow tests to self-administer over the following ten days, at a cost of £25 per person.

A media briefing was held to outline the new change, in which both Deputy Ferbrache and Guernsey’s Director of Public Health confirmed the sole decision of the CCA.

“This was a decision that was independent of STAC,” said Dr Nicola Brink.