States CEO “shocked” by covid-positive people who went to work despite feeling unwell

Saturday 06 February 2021

Authorities have been left "shocked" by the number of people who have been going to work with symptoms which later turned out to be Covid-19.

States of Guernsey CEO Paul Whitfield has made an impassioned plea for symptomatic people to stay home and call the clinical helpline.

“I’ve honestly been shocked by the number of cases identified to be positive where people have continued to attend their workplace,” he said. 

Pictured: Mr Whitfield has asked for anyone presenting symptoms to let Public Health know.

“During contact tracing [some people] admit to having felt a little unwell prior to being contact traced and still having attended work.”

“This not only presents the obvious risk to our community in continuing to transmit the virus, but through the requirements to contact trace and test, it puts a huge strain on our contact tracers and our testing regime.”

Guernsey recorded 17 cases on 4 February, all being contacts and none having come from unknown community sources. However, an outbreak in a care home emphasises our need to take any symptoms seriously.

“Simply put, if you are symptomatic or displaying any of the signs [of Covid] do not attend your workplace or anywhere else. Follow the well published guidelines,” Mr Whitfield concluded.

Pictured: The following symptoms to look out for have been published on the States of Guernsey website.

Civil Contingencies Authority Chairman Deputy Peter Ferbrache said people ignoring symptoms pose a risk to themselves and to others. 

“We will get out of this lockdown if people are responsible and stay at home and report if they’ve got symptoms.”

If you experience any symptoms, call the Clinical Helpline on 756938 or 756969 and avoid going to work.