Covid: 156 new cases over weekend - some events cancelled

Monday 15 November 2021

Some large events are being postponed following a weekend in which 156 new cases of covid were found and the total number of active cases went above 400 for the first time.

The annual Community Awards were due to be held tomorrow. The annual general meeting of the Guernsey Tourism Partnership was scheduled for Thursday. It was announced today that both events have been postponed due to the rising number of infections.

The events would have seen hundreds of people gathering together in confined spaces indoors and with no possibility of social distancing. 

Pictured: The States today released the latest testing results. There were 156 new cases of covid found over the weekend, 75 of which were symptomatic community cases. 

The need to postpone the annual Community Awards - which were being held at St James - is a disappointment to Chairman Sir Richard Collas.

“We have not taken this decision lightly, but we think it is the right thing to do given that the island is being encouraged to take all reasonable steps to ensure that our health and social care services are not overwhelmed at this difficult time,” said Sir Richard.

The event will be re-scheduled when the risk of infection and case numbers reduces.

Pictured: Sir Richard Collas said: “We bitterly regret the disappointment this will cause to those who were looking forward to an evening where their exceptional service to our island community would have been publicly recognised."

Chris Meinke, a member of the committee of the Guernsey Tourism Partnership, said the annual general meeting would be rescheduled. 

“As a large gathering in a confined space [and] with the incidence of Covid increasing, we have made the decision to postpone the event until after Christmas,” said Mr Meinke.

The States' Civil Contingencies Authority is due to meet tomorrow. Its Chairman, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, said last week that it would discuss whether face coverings should be made mandatory in certain circumstances. 

Pictured (top): St Pierre Park Hotel, where the Guernsey Tourism Partnership was due to hold its annual general meeting on Thursday.