Alderney services appeal for volunteers as covid cases worsen

Wednesday 05 January 2022

Alderney is calling for volunteers to help staff a care home and deal with public works amid staff shortages due to a sharp rise in the number of covid cases on the island.

101 people have tested positive for the virus on the island, which has a population of fewer than 3,000 people.

Despite none of these people being in hospital, all are self-isolating, which States of Alderney President William Tate said was impacting the island’s “medical resilience and our ability to keep services running.”

Connaught Care Home and States Works – the department responsible for looking after public infrastructure – are among the areas hardest hit.

Mr Tate called for anyone with a Category C driving licence or “any other useful skill” to help States Works while staff are in isolation.

Additionally, the Connaught Care Home has now closed to visitors and “residents are not venturing out” to avoid a positive case within the home.

Pictured: Residents of Connaught Care Home are staying in, and are not able to receive visitors in the meantime.

“The Connaught is also looking for volunteers to assist with domestic duties so that carers can continue their vital work. One of our biggest priorities is to make sure we protect the vulnerable,” added Mr Tate.

He also reminded Alderney residents that wearing masks in shops was mandatory, unless individuals have an exemption.

“Unfortunately, some people are going into the shops without a mask,” Mr Tate noted.

Lateral flow tests are currently being offered to everyone on the island, and anyone who registers a positive result is asked to report it to authorities and isolate for 10 days with a reduction to seven days if they test negative on days six and seven. 

“By doing the right thing we are going to keep everyone as safe as possible and navigate through this covid wave. My appeal is that we respect each other and ourselves and this situation will prove to be manageable,” Mr Tate said.