Compulsory meetings after coronavirus hits Channel Islands

Tuesday 10 March 2020

Nearly 1,000 government managers and leaders have been ordered to hold mandatory briefings with their staff, after the first case of coronavirus in the Channel Islands was confirmed.

Guernsey officials announced the case on the island around midday on Monday.

The patient was tested after returning from Tenerife with symptoms of the Covid-19 virus: a cough, fever and shortness of breath.

They quickly sought help and are said to be doing well, with support from relevant healthcare professionals.

Tenerife is listed in Group B, meaning anyone returning to the island from the country only needs to self-isolate if they have symptoms of the virus.

Pictured: The patient had recently returned from Tenerife.

"The patient has a clear travel history, indicating the likely source of infection," Guernsey's Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink, commented.

"This underlines our consistent messaging to the community that if you return from a Group B country and show symptoms, however mild, you should contact the coronavirus helpline for advice and to get tested."

Guernsey Grammar School's Principal Robert O'Brien later confirmed that the patient was a parent of a child at the college, explaining in an email to parents that the student is now self-isolating at home.

In the wake of the case, Guernsey's Public Health Services reminded people that more than 80% of coronavirus cases are mild.

Health officials advice update: Anyone arriving from Italy who develops symptoms that could be #Coronavirus should self-isolate and contact the helpline on 01534 445566 for advice.

For the latest updates, go to https://t.co/vulxRxQ6VV#CoronavirusJSY pic.twitter.com/jhv5y610zB

— Government of Jersey (@GovJersey) March 6, 2020

Unlike flu, current indications are that individuals who are showing no symptoms are unlikely to be contagious.

All Health and Social Care professionals in the island are now using infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus, and asking the community to respect the privacy of the patient concerned.

Services are already working to identify people who have come into contact with the patient in order to contain the virus.

It was also announced yesterday that a ward has been closed at Southampton Hospital, the facility where islanders are sent to receive treatment for cancer. However, the hospital says all other services are running as normal.

The high-dependency unit shut after a staff member, who worked a single nightshift at the hospital on Friday (6 March), tested positive for the bug.

Pictured: A ward at Southampton Hospital, where Jersey people receive treatment for cancer, has been closed in response to a staff member contracting Covid-19.

The announcements comes on the same day that Jersey's government has launched a major public hygiene awareness campaign, urging islanders to wash their hands regularly and to cover their mouths and noses when they cough and sneeze, ahead of a meeting of the Emergencies Council on Thursday.

More than 80 people have been tested for coronavirus in Jersey, but there are still no confirmed cases.

As Guernsey has not yet been designated an "affected jurisdiction", travel between the islands remains the same.

In light of the news, Social Security Minister Deputy Judy Martin issued an urgent plea to islanders during yesterday’s States Assembly meeting to keep away from their GP surgeries if they are displaying symptoms to help avoid the spread.

Pictured: Inter-island travel has not been affected.

The States Assembly meeting also involved questions over how local businesses would cope with the strain placed on their operations if large numbers of staff are absent due to coronavirus.

This morning, the government launched a dedicated porthole for businesses, which includes a ‘continuity checklist’.

Among the advice given is to consider preparing an additional pool of workers to undertake key tasks and provide training, and establishing an emergency communications plan.

Within government, 990 managers, team leaders and HR officers have been ordered to call their teams together for a mandatory briefing in the next 24 hours on how to respond to the threat of coronavirus.

A communication sent to the group orders:

• "Please discuss how to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus, using the points below: 
• wash your hands with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• keep horizontal surfaces and touch points (like light switches) clean.
• Please ensure posters are displayed in your toilets and breakout spaces. Encourage team members to watch the video detailing the steps involved in thorough hand washing. 
• Please ask team members to ensure they update their personal details and that you have their current contact details to hand, in case you need to ask them to self-isolate if anyone in your team displays symptoms.
• Please discuss how team members promptly report to you any absence from work or if any symptoms present.
• Please discuss how to self-isolate, using the guidance on gov.je/coronavirus.
• Please also discuss business continuity plans in your team if team members are unable to attend work and how you intend to cover operational needs in your area.
• For office-based teams, please tell any team members who have laptops to take them home each evening. Remind colleagues not to remove from your office any personal data that would break GDPR guidelines.
• Please consider whether you should request email access on personal devices for any members of your team who don't currently have suitable software installed. Please contact the Service Desk for such requests.
• For desk-based employees, please ensure that clear desk policies are enforced. All workplaces must be kept clean and tidy to allow for increased frequency of cleaning. Mugs and glasses must be put in dishwashers or washed up after use."