The COVID-19 Review is published today, and highlights how the Bailiwick community's togetherness helped deliver an effective response to the pandemic emergency.
The Review looks at a range of areas involved and affected by the pandemic and the Bailiwick's response from protecting the health and well-being of islanders and delivering the vaccine roll-out, to support for business, the provision of education, and the political oversight and scrutiny of the overall response.
It concludes that the islands had an evidenced-based strategy, made timely decisions and provided clarity to the community through clear communications.
Alongside the main report, a summary document is also being published today and both are available at www.gov.gg/covid.
The Review was carried out by the States of Guernsey by closely examining minutes, documents, decisions taken and their outcomes, plus feedback by a range of stakeholders, under the direction of the Policy & Resources Committee and the Committee for Home Affairs, in line with the States resolution.
Deputy Peter Ferbrache, President of the Policy & Resources Committee and Chair of the Civil Contingencies Authority said:
"There are lessons to be learned from the Bailiwick's response to COVID-19, and this review will help us to improve our preparedness further. But it also shows how well the people of the Bailiwick pulled together and how that cooperation meant we saw fewer restrictions on our freedoms and shorter periods of lockdown than many of our neighbours.
Lives were saved as a result of the response we took as a community, which we should be proud of. But we should also remember those we were not able to save, who lost their lives to the virus which was so devastating around the world."
Deputy Rob Prow, President of the Committee for Home Affairs, said:
"The COVID pandemic response brought out the very best of the Bailiwick community, and I'll never forget the way we worked together to respond to it. But it is important to learn lessons from such a significant period in recent history and I welcome this review which will help us to do that. It has improved our understanding of the potential impacts of major emergencies, especially in the rare case where they are prolonged in the way the pandemic was, and that can only help us with our response if and when it is needed in the future."
