More robust measures will buy us time

Tuesday 24 March 2020

From taking the temperatures of new arrivals, to turning 'advice' into 'enforcement'...a local advocate is urging the government to take a more "robust" approach to buy Jersey valuable time in its fight against covid-19.

Advocate Timothy Hanson explains what approach he'd like to see in response to the public health emergency...

"The images of Boris Johnson flanked by Professor Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance a couple of weeks ago, declaring that the UK government was following the science, was very uncomfortable.

The impression given was that there was only one approach, one truth: science.

Pictured: Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears alongside Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty (left) and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (right) at a press conference. (Simon Dawson/PA)

The reality is that much of this “science” is simply opinion, and in respect of modelling, depends upon the programme and the particular information and assumptions that have been put into the computer.

As the World Health Organization stated in one interview, the science is interesting but we need to look at what is actually happening. Different modelling in fact produces different results and the more relaxed policy of the UK government had to be revised as a result, just as Jersey’s initial reaction similarly changed.

I hope that it will not come to this, but there is the prospect of this UK trio falling into the 1987 Michael Fish hall of fame, after saying that there was no hurricane coming.

We have seen progress made against the virus in China, South Korea, and some impressive efforts to contain the virus in other countries such as in Singapore and, of course, the gravity of the situation in Italy is heartbreaking.

In the face of this, the UK approach – which was only really ramped up on Monday evening - has been bewildering in failing to get an early grip.

The suggestion in this article is simply that the Channel Islands are small island communities and are in a different position from the UK and should take a more robust approach from now on including enforcing restricted travel in and out. We do not have to repeat the errors of the UK.

Pictured: Advocate Hanson is calling for restricted travel in and out of the island.

Currently we cannot test sufficient numbers quickly and are fighting something that has the advantage of several days’ march on us with people and places infected before we can find out.

It is still unclear if testing can be transferred to the Channel Islands and carried out in large enough numbers but it would be a dramatic step forwards if this could happen.

As small island communities with a good handle on who comes into them and what happens in our islands, not least with the parish network, we are, however, in a position to enforce what is currently merely advisory from the Chief Minister.

Mere “advice” against anything but essential travel and for self-isolation has been shown to be inadequate in the UK.

In addition, because it is not difficult to do, checking the new arrival card details provided at entry points, and the temperatures of those coming in, are further reasonable precautionary measures.

Pictured: A vaccine is potentially a year or more away.

Even if the virus can be brought under control, or even eradicated in the Channel Islands, a vaccine is potentially a year away and there remains a risk of reinfection without enforced controls being in place.

We might as well get on with those enforced controls now and in the hope that a scientific or medical breakthrough comes as the world focusses upon a solution. Any time gained in delaying the spread of the virus is worthwhile.”

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not Bailiwick Express.