IOM GOV BRIEFING – 5th MARCH

HOWARD, DAVID, DR AL, DR HENNY

WELL GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE 

REMOVE MASKS 

NUMBERS – LAST 24 HOURS – ‘SNAPSHOT’

• 59 NEW CASES

• 163 ACTIVE CASES

• 2 IN HOSPITAL

DHSC SERVICES ASSESSMENT 

MORE SELF ISOLATION MEANS STAFFING HAS BEEN AFFECTED

STAFF WILL BE REDEPLOYED TO VACCINATION AND TEST 

CANCER SCREENINGS GOING AHEAD

ELECTIVES WILL BE URGENT AND EMERGENCY ONLY – RE-ASSESSED NEXT WEEK 

WE NEED MORE CAPACITY FOR COVID PATIENTS 

OPENING WARD 19 (PRIVATE PATIENTS UNIT ) WHICH GIVES US 7 EXTRA BEDS 

SUSPENDING ELECTED ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY TO REDEPLOY STAFF

PATIENTS – DON’T CONTACT HOSPITAL YET AS THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THE BOOKINGS TO ASSESS CLINICAL URGENCY – YOU’LL GET A CALL NEXT WEEK 

CLINICAL CONSULTATIONS WILL GO ONLINE 

DAYCARE SERVICES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. 

WE WILL FOCUS ON COVID RESPONSE 

GRANDPARENTS FOR CHILDCARE 

ADVISING THAT CHILDREN FROM DIFFERENT HOUSEHOLDS MUST NOT MIX

IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK AND YOUR WORK IS ESSENTIAL – YOU CAN USE GRANDPARENTS – BUT THERE SHOULD NOT BE MULTIPLE CHILDREN FROM MIXED HOUSEHOLDS AT THE SAME TIME 

THIS IS A WORRYING TIME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 

IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL TO FEEL ANXIOUS AND SCARED

IT IS SCARY, BUT IT WON’T LAST FOREVER

THINGS WILL GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE, IT WILL JUST TAKE SOME TIME 

ESSENTIAL SERVICES – PHARMACY AND SHOPS – UNDER PRESSURE, DON’T ABUSE FRONTLINE WORKERS

PEOPLE WHO TESTED POSITIVE – NO ONE WANTS TO CONTRACT IT, IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT. 

JUST BE A BIT NICER, SHOW SOME COMMUNITY KINDNESS

HOWARD 

CASES CONTINUE TO RISE FAST – 700 CLOSE CONTACTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE

THERE’S MORE TO COME. WE HAVEN’T HIT THE PEAK

KENT VARIANT, SO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL – HIGHLY TRANSMISSIBLE

I KNOW, THIRD LOCKDOWN IS TOUGH

WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES AS TIGHTLY AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS IN YOUR HANDS

INCREASE IN POSITIVE TESTS 

NEED TO BE CAREFUL IN COMPARISONS WITH PREVIOUS LOCKDOWNS

WE ARE FINDING MORE BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING HARDER AND TESTING MORE

WILL GIVE YOU SOME GRAPHS TO LOOK AT SOON 

DR HENNY 

NUMBER BREAKDOWN – 160 ACTIVE CASES 

3 – TRAVELLERS IN SELF ISO

64 – LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASES LINKED TO CLUSTER

24 – UNEXPECTED / UNEXPLAINED

69 – CONTACT TRACING STILL ONGOING

70 OF 160 ARE IN KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, 0-19 YEAR OLD

THE REMAINING ARE IN ADULTS, BUT FEW IN OLDER CATEGORIES 

ALTHOUGH IT STARTED WITH ADULT INFECTIONS 

IT VERY QUICKLY MOVED INTO KIDS

THEY ARE THE DRIVER OF THE TRANSMISSION 

65 CASES ARE STUDENTS 

11 SCHOOL STAFF 

CLEAR PATTERN, NOT MUCH DRIVEN FROM OTHER GROUPS 

30 OFFICE WORKERS – DISPERSED ACROSS DIFFERENT OFFICE SETTINGS

WFH MESSAGE 

HOWARD

SEEING LARGE NUMBERS OF CASES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE

THAT’S WHY WE CLOSED SCHOOLS 

WE NEED TO MINIMISE MIXING TO BREAK THE CHAINS 

IF YOU HAVE KIDS, DON’T LET THEM MIX WITH OTHERS 

DR AL

COMIN ACTED DECISIVELY LAST NIGHT 

INCREASING CASES WORRIED US – SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE 

VIRUS WAS IN A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS

CONCERNS THAT SCHOOLS ARE FEEDING THE SPREAD INTO THE COMMUNITY

 

WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MINIMISE RISK OF VIRUS SPREADING 

FIREBREAK – IMPORTANT AND EFFECTIVE 

SELF ISO REMAINS OUR BEST WEAPON 

COMIN WILL MEET OVER THE WEEKEND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN PROTECT THE FRONTLINE SERVICES

HOWARD 

BIG CONCERN WAS AROUND OFFICE WORKERS – THIS HAS TO STOP.

ALL EMPLOYERS – ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO GO INTO OFFICE 

IF WE HAVE TO LEGISLATE, WE WILL 

IF YOU THINK YOU’RE BEING PUT AT RISK – CONTACT WORKSAFE@GOV.IM

SOME CHANGES 

ALL CONSTRUCTION WORK TO CEASE FOR 2 WEEKS – REMOVE AS MUCH RISK AS POSSIBLE 

OUTDOOR WORKERS CAN CONTINUE FOR THE MOMENT – PROVIDED NO MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE – WITH DISTANCING AND MASKS 

WORK ON CRITICAL NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE CAN CONTINUE 

MERA HAS BEEN INCREASED, CAN CLAIM FROM MONDAY – MERA@GOV.IM

EMPLOYERS IN CONSTRUCTION MAY BE ABLE TO CLAIM SALARY SUPPORT IF THEY ARE 25% DOWN 

I KNOW THERE IS A THRIVING BUY SELL AND EXCHANGE COMMUNITY – IT NEEDS TO PAUSE 

DISRUPTION BUT WE NEED TO MINIMISE MIXING 

WE ONLY KEEP MEASURES IN PLACE FOR AS LONG AS NECESSARY 

SUPER IMPORTANT POINT 

WE KNOW IT ISN’T EASY. ANYONE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC ABUSE IN YOUR OWN HOME, IT IS NOT AN OFFENCE TO FLEE TO ANOTHER PROPERTY – CALL 999, VICTIM SUPPORT OR WOMEN’S AID

QUESTIONS 

ROB: DO YOU ACCEPT THAT THE LATE NIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE A PAIN IN THE ARSE? CAN’T YOU CHANGE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS?

HOWARD: THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS. WE DON’T GET THE DATA TIL LATER AND THEN HAVE TO MEET. MEETING WAS 9.30 LAST NIGHT 

IF WE WAITED TIL THE MORNING, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO NOTICE.

WAITING VS LATE NIGHT BEFORE – WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT. REALITY OF THE LIFE WE ARE LIVING AT THE MOMENT 

DR AL: HAD TO ACT QUICKLY AND MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION. THANKS TO THE MEDIA FOR SHARING IT 

DAVID: LAB PROCESSING UNTIL 8 / 9 AT NIGHT. PICTURE ONLY STARTED TO EMERGE AROUND 8. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WERE CONVENED WITHIN 30 MINS. COMMS OUT IN REAL TIME. WE WILL HAVE LATE NIGHTS. IF WE DON’T GO OUT AND SAVE IT TIL THE NEXT DAY, PEOPLE WOULDN’T BE READY. 

HOWARD: APPRECIATE IT’S UNSETTLING BUT RIGHT THING TO DO

ROB: KIDS AND TEENAGERS WITH LONG COVID. WHAT SUPPORT WILL BE OFFERED?

DR AL: THE WHOLE ESSENCE OF LONG COVID IS STILL A DEVELOPING FIELD. WE’RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT AFFECTS YOUNGER PEOPLE YET. NEEDS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. PHYSIOLOGICAL, PHYSIO ETC. 

HOPE IT WON’T BE A BIG PROBLEM BUT WE HAVE THE FACILITIES 

DAVID: EVIDENCE FOR CHILDREN SEEMS LIGHT, NOT AS WIDESPREAD AS ADULTS 

TIM: VITAL SERVICES – SHOPS, SERVICES, 111 – DO WE NEED TO FIND SOME CHILDCARE SERVICES SO THEY DON’T GET OVERWHELMED?

HOWARD: ASKED A SUBCOMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO IT

DR AL: WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT CHILDCARE IS. AND THERE ARE VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHO NEED ACCOMMODATING. SEEING WHAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER NEXT WEEK 

HOWARD: SCHOOL PLACES MUST BE FOR ABSOLUTE KEY WORKERS – ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH NO OTHER OPTION 

DAVID: SHOULD BE FOCUSSED ON THOSE WHO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES ONLY. 

TIM: CLARIFICATION, DAVID SAYS 163 AND DR HENNY SAID 160 – HOW MANY ACTIVE CASES ARE THERE?

DAVID: 163 (MINE WAS FROM 3PM)

DR HENNY: MY FIGURE WAS FROM 10AM. NO DOUBT IT WILL GO HIGHER BY THE END OF THE DAY.

TIM: RESPONSE SEEMS REACTIVE, DO WE NEED TO BE MORE NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE?

HOWARD: WE WENT IN FAST. CONSIDERED LIGHT TOUCH. BUT IT’S KENT SO THE PLAN CHANGES. WE’RE NOT PERFECT BUT WE’RE DOING OUR BEST. TRYING TO LEARN FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS

DR AL: WE’VE TRIED TO LEARN LESSONS TO NUANCE THE REACTION 

DAVID: WE DID ACT QUICKLY, CANCELLED EVENTS ON SATURDAY. THINGS GRADUALLY BUILD 

TIM: BUT EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT ON SUNDAY THO?

DAVID: YEAH BUT, BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THINGS GRADUALLY BUILD WITH THIS. THE SITCH CHANGED ON MONDAY.

IT TAKES 5 – 8 DAYS TO FEED DATA. MEASURE BROUGHT IN MONDAY WON’T BE SEEN UNTIL TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK 

WE REACTED PRETTY QUICKLY. AS SOON AS THE PROBLEM EMERGED ON MONDAY 

HOWARD: ON SUNDAY, ALL HIGH-RISK TESTS RETURNED NEGATIVE, WHICH IS WHY WE THOUGHT IT WAS OK BUT THE VIRUS HIT BACK ON MONDAY.

AL BELL: PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT TIME IT’S TAKING TO GET A TEST. AT ONE POINT WILL TESTING CAPACITY BE INCREASED?

DAVID: ISSUE IS AROUND GETTING PEOPLE BOOKED IN. LARGE VOLUME BEING BOOKED. MORE RESOURCE BEING ALLOCATED TO 111. PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE SHEER VOLUME BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOLS. 

AL BELL: TWO WEEKS SINCE THE FIRST CASE, IT QUICKLY SPREAD TO YOUNG PEOPLE, DID THE DEPT MISS AN OPPORTUNITY?

DR AL: MONDAY NIGHT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE GOT A CASE FROM A SCHOOL. WE TOOK DECISIVE ACTION.

SIMON: WITH REGARDS TO VACCINATION PROGRAMME, IS THE ISSUE BECAUSE HOSPITAL SYSTEM DOESN’T TALK TO THE GP SYSTEM. ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT PROBLEMS CAN BE OVERCOME?

DAVID: ASKED GP TO RUN MANUAL CHECKS. THANKS TO THEM. IT’S AN ISSUE WITH THE SEARCH FACILITY WITHIN THE SYSTEM. GP’S HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. SORRY IF YOU HAVE BEEN MISSED.

SIMON: CAN KIDS FROM SEPARATED FAMILIES GO BETWEEN HOMES?

HOWARD: YES, IF YOU ARE DIVORCED, SEPARATED, ETC, THEN YOU ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE CHILD ROUND, BUT DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE. 

SAM: ARE SYMPTOMS DIFFERENT IN KIDS? AND WHAT IS THE BEST TREATMENT PARENTS CAN GIVE TO KIDS?

DR HENNY: TEMPERATURE COMMON, BUT A CHILD MAY NOT REPORT CHANGE IN TASTE OF SMELL. THEY MIGHT NOT GET THE COUGH BUT A LOT OF THEM DO. SOME MIGHT GET ACHES PAINS, FLU, NAUSEA, DIARRHEA (VERY YOUNG OR VERY OLD SYMPTOM).

IF A PARENT IS CONCERNED THEY SHOULD RING 111. BUT ALSO DON’T AS THEY WILL GET OVERBURDENED. YOU DO NEED TO REPORT IT. 

KIDS CAN GET VERY ILL VERY QUICKLY. CONTACT GP OR MEDS. 

IF IT IS COVID AND CLOSE CONTACT – 111. 

CALPOL FOR CHILDREN. KEEP THEM WELL HYDRATED AND COMFORTABLE. 

SAM: IN GUERNSEY THE CLOSED TAKEAWAYS, DID YOU CONSIDER THAT TOO?

HOWARD: NOT CONVINCED IT WORKED. PEOPLE DO RELY ON FOOD TO BE DELIVERED. MAKE SURE THE DELIVERY PEOPLE FOLLOW GOOD HYGIENE THEN IT WILL BE OK.

DAVID: SELF ISOLATED PEOPLE WILL BE RELIANT ON TAKEAWAYS. RISK IS MINIMAL AS CONTACTLESS 

PAUL: FRIDAY A TEACHER WAS POSITIVE IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY. HELP ME OUT WITH THE TIMELINE? ON MONDAY, SCHOOLS WENT BACK…HARD AND FAST IS YOUR POLICY, BUT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN HARD AND FAST. 

DR AL: WE ARE REACTING TO EVIDENCE AND DATA. THE POSITIVE CASE ON FRIDAY WAS SOMEONE WHO WORKED OUT OF HOURS AND THEY HADN’T BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIDS. WE PUT IN MEASURES MONDAY MORNING, NO SIGNIFICANT RISK.

PAUL: DO YOU REGRET NOT SHUTTING SCHOOLS ON MONDAY?

DR AL: WHEN WE FOUND A CASE IN SCHOOL. WE CLOSED SCHOOLS DOWN THE NEXT DAY IN A PHASED APPROACH 

PAUL: GARY ROBERTS HAS BROKEN RANKS. SURELY WITH SPC MOVE, YOU’VE OPENED THE FLOODGATES FOR OTHER KEY WORKERS WANTING IT? CAN PEOPLE DONATE AND DOSE TO A POLICE OFFICER?

HOWARD: WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT SPC STAFF INTERACTING WITH THE UK. VACCINE THERE TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL 

DAVID: NOT BASED ON LIKELIHOOD OF CATCHING, BASED ON VULNERABILITY – AGE OR MEDICAL. VACCINE DOESN’T ASSIST WITH RESILIENCE IN WORKPLACES AS THEY CAN STILL CATCH IT, IT DOESN’T REMOVE TRANSMISSION. POLICE COULD STILL CATCH IT AND THEY’D STILL NEED TO ISOLATE. OFFICERS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES WILL BE VACCINATED 

PAUL: YOU ARE ASKING THE POLICE TO POLICE WITHOUT ANY POLICE?

HOWARD: SHARE CONCERNS, IT WILL BE THE SAME ACROSS OTHER AREAS LIKE AMBULANCE AND PRISON. UNDERSTAND CONCERNS, IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE COULD DO FROM VACCINATION THEN WE WOULD DO OUR BEST, BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THEM CATCHING IT 

DAVID: TESTING PATHWAYS WOULD BE THE ANSWER TO BRING PEOPLE OUT OF ISOLATION EARLIER. VACCINE WON’T FIX IT. 

HELEN: UNEXPLAINED CASES. HOW MANY HAVE THERE BEEN?

DAVID: LOCALLY ACQUIRED – SOURCE UNKNOWN – 24. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE CASE NUMBERS RISING 

HOWARD: COUGHS *SORRY ABOUT THAT*

CLOSING 

STAY AT F*CKING HOME FELLA 

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND