Covid: Timely Information, and Quick Steps needed

We need sensible steps to balance the economy and freedoms with safety. Mandatory mask wearing when numbers are high is another layer in the Swiss cheese model of protection (see above), vaccines and boosters are another, and while the UK and Guernsey have put this back in place, our government is still dithering when it is clear that the best scientific advice in those jurisdictions is to do so.

We also need enough statistics so we can make informed decisions about risk - different people will make different decisions depending on age, health, etc, but information is key. While the downloadable statistic give useful information, a breakdown between positive cases giving a split between vaccinated and unvaccinated, and by age group, would allow what in statistic terms is to see a baseline. Without that, we cannot see how effective vaccines are proving, or for that matter, how much their efficacy declines with increasing age, which is known from UK studies to be the case. Baselines are an important part of any statistics on Covid, and the ONC in the UK keeps them.

It is also important that government release STAC minutes in a timely manner, which they do not. There is really no excuse for this, as up to date minutes will give us some expert views on the current situation, rather than the 13th September which is really of historic interest. 

This is not about finding the government at fault - unless they decide not to follow STAC advise without good reason - but about getting a scientific overview - and remember that someone like Dr Muscat will be in touch with colleagues in the UK and elsewhere on the latest significant scientific news. The best way to get a balanced opinion (and the media can sometimes be off-kilter) is to get an informed scientific one that is timely.

A How many meetings of STAC have there been between then and now (18 November)?
B When can we expect to see those published online?

Response
A Since 13th September there have been five STAC meetings: 4th, 11th and 25th October, 1st
and 15th November.
B Minutes are published as soon as possible, whilst upholding the safe space for STAC to
debate live issues. The minutes of the meetings in this period are likely to be published by
January 2022

This is too little, too late!