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Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic on Emergency Preparedness and Response��Robin Gonard, Director of Regulation�Government of Guernsey

January 2022

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Where is Guernsey?

We are here!

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Contents

Timeline
Emergency Management (CCA)
Options to manage the risk
Communication
Impact
Learning the lessons

We are here!

Introduce Guernsey as a small jurisdiction, Crown dependency, i.e. responsible for its own affairs with its own elected assembly, but defence and international relations are the remit of the United Kingdom government

Size of a small town: 65km², 63,500 residents, Alderney 2,000, Sark 600. Location, off the Cotentin peninsula (Normandie). Travel between islands by sea (freight and passengers) + small airport in Alderney with passenger / mail/ medical flights.

Economy: largely service economy - financial services, tourism, small agriculture and dairy industry. Limited heavy industry.

Medical facilities: main hospital in Guernsey, not all specialisms available. Some treatment provided in the UK. Main economic drivers are financial services and tourism.

Supply chain: mostly from the UK via Portsmouth, food and groceries through one freight operator. Fuel supplies to the islands by sea (mixture of bulk and containerised options). Gas (LPG) from the EU via gas tankers.

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Timeline of COVID-19 in Guernsey

Wave 1 -> traditional quarantine + testing
Between waves 1 and 2 -> largely restriction free, travel testing and quarantine
Post wave 2 -> vaccination based, testing and open travel

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Emergency management

Legislative framework (Civil Contingencies (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law 2012
Civil Contingency Authority mandates assessment of risk and mitigation (influenza pandemic)
Business continuity arrangements
Some businesses had home working policy and arrangements (equipment, remote access, manager support)
Government approach based on traditional quarantine and travel restrictions
January 2020: Declaration of an “emergency” �-> legal powers to impose restrictions

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Manage the risk

Know your vulnerabilities:

Guernsey Hospital, Alderney Hospital
Supply chain (medicines, food, protective equipment)
Transport links (air and sea links)
No medical gases production
Limited testing capacity

Led to specific guidance for different sectors (including hospitality, healthcare, offices, retail, construction…)

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Communication with the public and businesses

Initially: press conferences, online and on local radio, written press release to local papers.
Subsequently (within days), widespread use of social media in addition to traditional media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

-> visual brand = the Guernsey Cow

Public perception:

Uncertainty and fear
Emergence of anti-vax movement
COVID fatigue

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Impacts

Economy, GDP (3% contraction in 2020), response costs, future costs, inflation
Personal costs, unemployment, reduced savings, birth rate?
COVID-19 deaths, excess deaths
Tourism opportunities as a safe destination
Increased mental health crisis
Change in approach to risk management

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Learning the lessons

Planning and assessing
Identify Single Points of Failure in advance
Communication with the public and businesses
Information overload
Compliance linked to uncertainty and risk perception
Beware of optimistic business continuity plans (particularly IT resilience)

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#GuerneyTogether