Jersey's Coronavirus Plans: Could do Better

Draft Covid-19 (Workplace Restrictions) (Amendment) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• Allow Orders that will require customers to wear masks in some workplaces
• Allow for Orders that will require businesses to take action to restrict the spread of Covid-19, such as collecting contact details from customers.
• Provide for an enhanced enforcement regime for businesses that do not follow the conditions of Orders under this Regulation

Draft Covid-19 (Gatherings) (Jersey) Regulations 202-

• Allow Orders that will limit the number of people who can gather

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf said: “Public health guidance, such as the strong recommendation to wear masks in enclosed public places and limiting the size of gatherings, has been in place since April.

“These Regulations form part of a toolkit we can use to make less restrictive measures required by law, which aim to limit the need for further Island wide restrictions like lockdown and limit the spread of COVID-19.

“Monitoring of support and up-take of mask use is underway and if further action is needed to protect the public, by ensuring the strict adherence of measures, these Regulations will enable the issuing of Orders to enforce the guidelines.

“If we all follow the current public health guidance, which at the moment allows for relative freedoms, we can potentially avoid more restrictive measures being implemented.”

Comments:

I have a good mind to stand outside a supermarket and monitor the number of mask wearers over an hour. While it has increased, as a quick anecdotal survey, I would suggest, shows that at least 25%-30% are simply not taking that advice seriously at all. At smaller shops, like Morrisons, where people just pop in and out, at least 50% are not following that advice. Today I went into Iceland, Pound Magic, M&S in Town, Tesco, Waitrose, and in each at least 25%-30% were not wearing masks.

And just look at the attitude of Gerald Voisin - it is not for my staff to police mask wearing when it is only "strongly recommended". That's what you get when you have a voluntary system.

"If further action is needed..." What planet is the Health Minister on? Clearly he moves in rarefied circles where everyone wears mask. As to following public health guidance, apart from the Chief Minister wearing a mask and then removing it to speak, and as one would expect Dr Muscat wearing a mask before and after speaking, one of the notable things about the press conference today was that when not speaking, the Chief Minister and other Ministers were not wearing masks, when they should have been, if only to set an example!

By the time "further action is needed", it will almost certainly be too late.

And again, with regard to "collecting contact details from customers", while some businesses are diligent, some rely on QR codes alone, with no alternative for people without smart phones, and the current guidance says they should still service customers who refuse to give contact details.

Again a lax state of play which sends out entirely the wrong message to the general public. We do not have a general public in which civic duty ranks high among nearly all of the population, as in Sweden. We have a general public like that of the UK, where a fair few - enough to spread the virus - won't take precautions unless they have to do so. 

There is no good having a toolkit hidden away somewhere when it is urgently needed to be used. It is like the plans from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at present!

“But the plans were on display…”

“On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.”
“That’s the display department.”
“With a flashlight.”
“Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.”
“So had the stairs.”
“But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”