CCA Chairman has covid

Wednesday 17 November 2021

Deputy Peter Ferbrache missed today's covid-19 briefing after testing positive for the disease.

The Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority is one of several deputies to have tested positive for covid. Some of those who have tested positive visited England or Jersey for work last week.

He was replaced at today's briefing by Deputy Heidi Soulsby. Deputy Soulsby is normally an advisor to the CCA. But, as Vice-President of the Policy & Resources Committee, she chairs the CCA if Deputy Ferbrache is unavailable.

Deputy Soulsby said that Deputy Ferbrache had taken a PCR test after experiencing symptoms of covid.

“He hasn’t been feeling very well," she said. "Yesterday, he attended the Policy & Resources Committee and CCA remotely from home before taking a PCR test. That PCR test came back positive this morning. He'll now be isolating at home.

Pictured: When opening today's covid-19 briefing, Deputy Heidi Soulsby said: “The eagle-eyed among you will notice that I’m not Deputy Ferbrache."

At today's briefing, Deputy Soulsby was joined by Dr Nicola Brink, Director of Public Health, and Dr Peter Rabey, Medical Director. 

They said there had been a significant increase in people wearing masks in public or confined spaces since Deputy Ferbrache wrote an open letter to the Bailiwick on Friday urging better use of face coverings. They thanked islanders for their understanding and co-operation and reiterated the importance of face coverings as well as high vaccination rates.

Deputy Ferbrache is only the latest deputy to test positive for covid or experience symptoms in advance of testing. 

After feeling groggy over the weekend I tested positive for Covid today.

— Steve Falla (@steve_falla) November 15, 2021

Pictured: Deputy Steve Falla felt unwell after returning from a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association event in Jersey. 

“Some deputies have openly stated that they have covid, but I don’t know all those who might have got it,” said Deputy Soulsby when asked about a visit to Jersey by several deputies, some of whom now have covid. 

Deputy Soulsby was also questioned about Deputy Ferbrache's decision not to wear a mask when he attended the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday.

"I think that is a question for Deputy Ferbrache," said Deputy Soulsby. "He is a patient after all and I don’t know what instructions were given to those who attended the ceremony at the cenotaph.”

Pictured: The latest testing figures released by the States this afternoon show that there are 482 known active cases of covid-19 in the Bailiwick. This includes 71 new cases since yesterday's figures and 34 recoveries.