Reduced CCA media briefing as cases rise by 10

Tuesday 26 January 2021

Three members of the usual Civil Contingencies Authority lineup were missing from today’s media briefing, as we were told of another 10 corona virus cases on Monday.

P&R Vice President Heidi Soulsby, States CEO Paul Whitfield and President of Health and Social Care Al Brouard, have all been placed in passive isolation following indirect contact to positive cases.

Today has seen an escalation in public concern, with rampant speculation leading to Law Enforcement trying to dampen down social media rumours.

Head of the CCA, Deputy Peter Ferbrache, made it clear that speculation and rumour is very unhelpful.

"We live in a decent society, we don't have a lynch mob mentality, but we've heard and seen some unpleasant rumours today. It's unacceptable."

Pictured: Deputy Ferbrache was damning of people spreading rumours and sharing people's names.

"To name individuals and claim that he/she did this - that is not right, accurate or decent, and would people please stop doing it."

"Unless you are a law enforcement officer, please do not pretend that you have all the facts when you do not."

Over the past 24 hours the number of positive cases has jumped to 62, seven were contacts and three were of unknown origin.

Pictured: Unknown community sources can be clarified with enhanced track and trace.

The briefing included a breakdown of where the positive cases have been found within the community. We know that several schools have been affected at this moment in time, and another of the positive cases has been linked to the Ship and Crown.

Pictured: Almost half of the recorded positive results have been linked to schools. 

Dr Brink says the relatively low rise in positive results, compared to Sunday's total of 38, shouldn't lead us to underestimate the seriousness of the situation.

"We're not out of the woods, we need to continue to stay in lockdown and we need to continue to follow the rules," she said.