Measures taken to avoid "highly disruptive" closure of schools

Wednesday 18 March 2020

Closing local schools "would seriously impact the availability of key workers" and steps are instead being taken to reduce the spread of infection, including cancelling assemblies, twice daily cleaning and decontamination of surfaces.

Health & Social Care President Heidi Soulsby told the States this morning that clear advice is being shared with schools to emphasise good hygiene, sanitise facilities and avoid an outbreak of covid-19.

"Today the Director of Public Health will be issuing a clear policy directive to schools under the Sante Publique legislation setting out measures required to be taken to prevent the spread of infection," she said. "This includes the cancellation of assemblies, non-essential meetings, direct contact activities such as contact sports and group eating in canteens.

"In addition schools are being told to, amongst other things, examine business continuity plans and how they will work in the event of staff shortages and to prepare for the possibility of school closures and how educational services could be delivered remotely. An enhanced cleaning policy is also to be brought in with immediate effect including twice daily cleaning and at least daily decontamination of surfaces."

Pictured: Deputy Gavin St Pier yesterday said it would be "inappropriate" to compare Guernsey's approach to that taken by Jersey's Government, who have elected to close schools.

Jersey has today announced all of its schools will close from Friday this week, effectively extending the island's easter holiday by two weeks.

Deputy Soulsby reiterated why our schools are instead currently being kept open and the additional measures that have been taken in our Bailiwick. 

"I would like to emphasise that the Director of Public Health is not advising the need to close schools at the moment," she said.

"It must be understood that closures are highly disruptive and would seriously impact the availability of key workers. The cautious actions we have taken in terms of travel and the fact that we have had only one positive case and no evidence of community seeding means there is no reason to close schools now.

"Whilst I understand this is happening in Jersey, we are not Jersey, we are not the UK. We will continue to make decisions that are appropriate for Guernsey."

Pictured top: Deputy Heidi Soulsby over Vauvert School, one of the local primary schools.