Law Enforcement responds to outbreak rumours

Tuesday 26 January 2021

Bailiwick Law Enforcement is trying to extinguish social media rumours about the cause of the current corona virus outbreak, saying that gossip about potential breaches can "actively hinder" formal investigations.

There are currently 52 known cases of covid-19 Guernsey, with further statistics on the escalating situation expected later this afternoon ahead of the rescheduled press briefing at 16:30.

Rumours abound about the potential origins of the outbreak, which has seen at least six cases of community seeding since Friday. 

"Bailiwick Law Enforcement has been made aware of a number of rumours circulating on social media regarding how this latest outbreak of Covid-19 started," a spokesman for BLE said in response.

Law Enforcement pledges "transparency" 

"We can give our assurances that any evidence of a breach will be robustly investigated, however we also urge islanders not to believe everything they read on, or are told via, social media.

"Rumours can actively hinder officers’ investigations and also put undue pressure on people accused of doing something they may well have not."

"We are committed to being transparent, and will give information if and when we have it."

People are reminded that any information that would be useful to officers should be reported properly by contacting JESCC on 725111.