News and updates for Guernsey: 19-23 October

Father Christmas has been given critical worker status by the States of Guernsey, director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink has announced.

"We've been very reassured by the absence of Covid-19 in the North Pole," she said.

This means Santa will be able to deliver presents to bailiwick children without having to self-isolate, as part of a sleigh-bridge arrangement.

Guernsey is a "long, long way" from shutting restaurants or reverting to other lockdown restrictions, Deputy Peter Ferbrache said.

The chairman of the Civil Contingencies added that "life will continue as normal" as the cluster of Covid-19 cases was "well under control" and paid tribute to the "vast amount of work" done by the Public Health Services team.

Director of Public Health Dr Nicola Brink emphasised her team were "closing the cluster down".

She said the last two cases diagnosed had not had any contacts because they'd been "proactively" put in self-isolation.

Dr Brink reminded islanders the triggers for stricter public health measures were an uncontrollable cluster of cases or widespread community seeding, neither of which applied in these current circumstances.

She added: "It's a defined cluster that we're controlling, it is not eight cases occurring unrelated around the community.

"That then would be a different conversation."

Earlier Dr Brink said there were seven confirmed cases and one presumptive case.

The move to phase 5C of Guernsey's lockdown exit framework, which brings in new tiers of travel restrictions and an arrival testing programme, has been delayed by two days to Wednesday.

States of Guernsey chief executive Paul Whitfield said they have set up a new website to allow travellers to fill in their details to make border testing more efficient.

The 'travel tracker' will have to be completed on arrival, but details can be filled in as much as two days before departure, he confirmed.

It will inform people arriving of the relevant information they need to provide to staff at the border, who will direct them to testing booths.

The tests will be a supervised self-swab with guides available for people to assist them to carry it out, Mr Whitfield said.

Former health president Heidi Soulsby said islanders may have become "a little complacent over recent months" following the end to social distancing and internal public health restrictions in Guernsey.

The deputy chief minister, who is remaining on the Civil Contingencies Authority panel temporarily for continuity despite no longer sitting on the body, said reconnecting with the Guernsey Together spirit of lockdown was key.

She said: "We've been enjoying freedoms that other countries can only dream of, but as I've said before, this is a marathon, not a sprint."

Dr Nicola Brink has emphasised that despite the recent cluster of linked Covid-19 cases, there is not widespread community seeding in Guernsey.

She said the Public Health team had tested 2,271 symptomatic islanders since 21 September, with no positive cases of the virus as part of their "broad community testing programme".

The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Guernsey's cluster has risen to seven, with another presumptive case, Dr Nicola Brink said.

The director of Public Health said five of those cases are linked to a specific venue, alongside a family member and work colleague.

She added that between 80 and 100 people linked to the cluster are currently in self-isolation.

The Isle of Man air bridge has been suspended by the Manx government after the cluster of recent cases in Guernsey.

Chairman of the Civil Contingencies Authority Peter Ferbrache said he had spoken to the chief minister of the Isle of Man earlier, who confirmed the suspension.

He reassured islanders currently on the other island "do not need to panic", as they would be able to return as normal.

Residents in the area were offered bottled water while their own supplies were unavailable.

There's been a large rise in the number of households in Guernsey recycling, according to the latest survey from the States.

More than 95% of households are now regularly recycling, up from 74% just over two years ago.

The survey of more than 1,000 homes in the Castel and St Peter Port found the biggest increase in the last year has been an uptake in fortnightly glass pick-ups.

More than two thirds of households are now leaving out bottles and jars for collection, compared to 59% in 2019.

When it comes to blue and clear bags, 96% of homes are now using them - that's up 4% on June last year.

However, about 10% of blue bags contained "contaminated items" like carrier bags and crisp packets.

The survey also found the lockdown had a direct impact on the amount of material recycled in the first half of 2020, which has been attributed to islanders spending more time at home and bring banks being shut.

Public Health wants islanders to focus on prevention to stop the spread of viruses this winter.

The Winter Planning Group is ensuring front-line health and care services are prepared but is also asking islanders to be extra cautious.

Health and Social Care started planning for this winter flu season earlier than ever before, with the hospital, GPs, social services and other health professionals coming together to work out the best way to respond across the bailiwick.

The message for islanders is clear - prevention is better than cure.

Islanders are being reminded of the effects of cold weather on the more vulnerable groups, like over 65s, children under the age of five, pregnant women and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Those within these groups are also being urged to get the flu jab now, in the autumn, before flu starts spreading.

Alderney Shipping has been unable to dock after the harbour crane suffered "numerous electrical faults", the States of Alderney has revealed.

The vessel has been forced to return to Poole.

A team of electricians has been working with a UK crane specialist to identify the exact problem.

The initial part identified as causing the fault turned out to not be the issue once re-fitted, indicating the "problem was more serious than first anticipated", the States confirmed.

The engineers have ordered additional parts that could fix the problem, but there is an unknown risk of further issues after they are fitted.

The crane is due to be replaced this winter and the harbour team is "working hard" to keep it working until then, the States added.

Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital and other healthcare facilities run by the States remain open, the Committee for Health and Social Care (HSC) has confirmed.

Following the second Covid-19 case of "unknown" origin on Wednesday and the island's care homes closing as a precautionary measure, HSC said it had received a "large volume" of concerned calls.

A spokesman for the health service said they were monitoring the situation and liaising with Public Health Services, but visiting restrictions would not be reintroduced at the moment.

He said: "As we move towards the end of the year, we do need the public to work with us through what could be a challenging period.

"It is the season when a lot of people have coughs and colds so the message of Catch it, Bin it, Wash your hands is very important."

The service also asked anyone with cough or cold symptoms to avoid visiting any health or care facilities unless they need emergency treatment.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby has been officially appointed as the Vice-President of the Committee for Policy and Resources (P&R), following their first formal meeting.

She is the first woman to hold the position, which doubles as deputy chief minister when acting externally.

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq will continue his role as lead for external relations and constitutional affairs from the last States term, a committee spokesman confirmed.

Mrs Soulsby said it was an "honour" to take up the role and be the first female holder of the office.

She said: "No one is more aware than me of the challenges Guernsey faces now but I am already optimistic that this committee, and this States more widely, has the skills and the drive needed to meet them."

The election's poll topper and Guernsey's former president of the Committee for Policy and Resources (P&R) has failed to secure a role in the new States of Guernsey.

Deputy Gavin St Pier has so far lost out on his former role to Deputy Peter Ferbrache, the presidency of the States Trading Advisory Board to Deputy Peter Roffey and a seat on the Scrutiny Management Committee to Deputies Simon Fairclough and John Dyke.

The only other backbencher without a position on any States committee or body is Deputy Lyndon Trott, a former P&R Vice-President under Mr St Pier and Chief Minister between 2008 and 2012.

Mr Trott lost out on the presidency of the States Assembly and Constitution Committee to Deputy Carl Meerveld by 26 votes to 13 on Monday.

Here's a full roundup of all of the deputies and Alderney representatives sitting on the States of Guernsey committees and political bodies.

Committee for Policy and Resources:

• Peter Ferbrache - President
• Heidi Soulsby - Vice-President
• Mark Helyar
• Jonathan Le Tocq
• David Mahoney

Committee for Economic Development:

• Neil Inder - President
• Sasha Kazantseva-Miller
• Steve Falla
• Simon Vemulen
• Nick Moakes

Committee for Education, Sport and Culture:

• Andrea Dudley-Owen - President
• Sue Aldwell
• Bob Murray
• Sam Haskins
• Andy Cameron

Committee for Employment and Social Security:

• Peter Roffey - President
• Steve Falla
• Tina Bury
• John Gollop
• Lindsay de Sausmarez

Committee for Environment and Infrastructure:

• Lindsay de Sausmarez - President
• Simon Fairclough
• Andy Cameron
• Adrian Gabriel
• Sam Haskins

Committee for Health and Social Care:

• Al Brouard - President
• Tina Bury
• Marc Leadbeater
• Aidan Matthews
• Alderney Representative Alex Snowdon

Committee for Home Affairs:

• Rob Prow - President
• Andrew Taylor
• Simon Vermeulen
• Chris Le Tissier
• Marc Leadbeater

Development Planning Authority:

• Victoria Oliver - President
• Sasha Kazansteva-Miller
• John Dyke
• Chris Le Tissier
• Andrew Taylor

Scrutiny Management Committee:

• Yvonne Burford - President
• Simon Fairclough
• John Dyke

States Assembly and Constitution Committee:

• Carl Meerveld - President
• Liam McKenna
• Simon Fairclough
• Lester Queripel
• John Gollop

States Trading Supervisory Board:

• Peter Roffey - President
• Charles Parkinson
• Deputy Nick Moakes

Transport Licensing Authority:

• John Gollop - President
• David de Lisle
• Chris Le Tissier
• Chris Blin
• Alderney Representative Steve Roberts

The four members of the Committee for Health and Social Care have been appointed by the States.

Deputies Tina Bury, Marc Leadbeater and Aidan Matthews and Alderney Representative Alex Snowdon were appointed unanimously.

They were nominated by the committee's President Al Brouard, who had initially asked for the vote to be deferred in order to secure a fourth person to put forward.

The Transport Licensing Authority membership has been appointed unanimously by the States of Guernsey.

President John Gollop proposed Deputies David de Lisle, Chris Le Tissier and Chris Blin and Alderney Representative Steve Roberts.

The two political seats on the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) will be filled by Deputies Charles Parkinson and Deputy Nick Moakes.

They were elected after a four-way election, with Alderney Representative Steve Roberts and Deputy Victoria Oliver missing out.

Both successful candidates were proposed by STSB President Peter Roffey.

Deputy Moakes is a first-time candidate, while Deputy Parkinson was in the States from 2004 to 2012 and then served as President of Economic Development in the last term.

Mr Roberts was proposed by President of the Committee for Policy and Resources Peter Ferbrache and Deputy John Gollop put Mrs Oliver forward for the role.

The remaining two seats on STSB will be filled by non-political appointments.

Almost 400 students have confirmed they would like to return to the Bailiwick of Guernsey for the Christmas period, but 300 of them have yet to book travel, a States survey has revealed.

The feedback has been gathered after 520 students responded to an "intentionally short" survey by the States to help develop plans to support students who wanted to return home for the holiday.

They were asked whether they intended to return, whether they have booked travel and any relevant travel dates.

The States said the survey also sought to "remind students of current self-isolation requirements, what self-isolation means in practice and asked if they would be able to safely self-isolate at home".

Plans were "being developed to ensure appropriate travel options are available and these will be announced as soon as finalised", it added.