Mask-wearing back at hospital, one school hit by staff absences
COVID cases appear to be on the rise, as visitors to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital are required to wear masks again and one school has changed its teaching methods to cope.
The most recent figures showed 222 active Covid-19 cases in the Bailiwick, with an update due later today.
Numbers have been largely stable for a few months.
But a letter to Grammar School parents yesterday said that teaching had been affected, after a significant rise in Covid cases, as well as other illnesses, leading to staff absences.
‘As a result, we have collapsed some classes and will be teaching multiple groups in large spaces in the school,’ the letter stated.
‘We are reviewing and modifying arrangements for remaining large gatherings this term and request that to support us in maintaining staff levels to keep the school operational: students should not attend school if they are showing Covid-19 symptoms, however mild.’
At the PEH visitors are once again required to wear face coverings and take a lateral flow test before going there.
Restrictions were relaxed on 26 October, but have been re-introduced following an increase in Covid-19 cases.
There are currently nine patients with Covid-19 in the hospital, and the mask measures have been re-introduced in an effort to contain the spread as much as possible.
The majority are not displaying symptoms, but the hospital has decided to take this step across its services.
All staff will wear face coverings, both in hospital and community settings, and they will be provided at all hospital entrances if visitors do not have one.
In addition to taking an LFT before visiting, islanders are also being asked to not attend the hospital or care homes if they have any cold or flu-like symptoms, irrespective of their LFT result.
Until 23 December, LFTs continue to be available to islanders free of charge and can be collected from the Guernsey Information Centre or Beau Sejour.
Islanders who receive care in the community have been asked to notify their providers if they are symptomatic so that visits can be planned to protect other community patients and staff.
A spokesman said that an increase in cases of Covid-19 or influenza and staff illness was not unexpected at this time of year, given the increase of indoor mixing with the colder winter temperatures, meaning that people are more likely to spend more time indoors.
