Plans are being made by the Isle of Wight Council to counter any second wave of coronavirus, but one local councillor says that a ‘second wave’ is something largely invented by journalists.
At a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s corporate scrutiny committee, director of public health for the Island, Simon Bryant, said it was likely there would be a second wave of the infection but was unable to say how high the spike could be or how long it will go on for.
He said:
“We are trying to understand the spread of infection in the first wave, how it was spreading, and a number of factors will affect whether there is a second wave and how high that is, including the prevalence of infection we have in the community.
“We have managed really well in the first wave, with extremely good work to ensure that wave was low.
“The NHS was able to manage so we are working in the same way with the right plans in place to manage a second wave — so the NHS and our communities are able to cope and the spread of infections is minimised.”
Local authorities have been asked by government to prepare local outbreak control plans, getting a share of £300 million to do so, which plans ways the council will be able to deal with any spike, second wave or outbreaks that appear across the Island — a potential local lockdown, instead of nationally.
Chief executive of the council, John Metcalfe, said the government was very much moving to local plans so the council would use its public and environmental health powers to manage the outbreaks. He said:
“We have also been working very closely with care homes, producing a care home support plan which went to the government at the end of May, to ensure they have sufficient resources to contain the spread of the virus and manage an outbreak.
“The challenge we are going to get across the next few months is how much effort we put into recovery and how much into response because I see it being a balancing act.
“We will be wanting to recover as much as we can but as soon as we start to get outbreaks we will need to go back to response mode.”
However, if there is a second wave, the council’s financial forecast, which includes an almost £10 million funding gap, doesn’t assume there is one — so no estimates can be made to any further trouble this pandemic can bring to an already precarious financial position.
Mr Metcalfe said if there was a second wave, an emergency budget would be made, although discussions have been had with Government about further funding if it were to come. As it stands, council officers believe any further funding from central government would be unlikely.
Cllr Michael Lilley requested the cabinet report back to the next committee meeting with strategies and plans for a second wave, including health and economic aspects.
However, Cllr Chris Quirk, said it would be incumbent for cabinet to be doing that already but felt ‘senior scientific opinion doesn’t believe in the second wave and is something largely invented by journalists’.
Well then, stop people using the ferries, 2nd homeowners and DFLs. Comman sense, here we go again.
Nimby
J
This island would be screwed without DFL’s and people visiting from the mainland.
The island will be screwed when the deaths go up and keep increasing because of people bringing the virus over from the mainland. Should’ve shut our borders from the outset as New Zealand did. Their attitude is one to be admired.
Why don`t you learn to spell first?
common then…. is that ok
I agree with no social events and no attractions open(social distancing) ther is no reason to come over here this year , life or loot which would you rather have it’s not a difficult question is it
Got to be from seaview
I’m not from Seaview, nor am I a visitor, I am a local and entirely agree with “inbred”. You’d have to be a complete moron not to!!
With you 100% – as are many people with any sense.
Do the “council” know their arse from their elbow?
Yes they use their elbows to push you around with and their arse to speak from.
More fake news give it up let it go people had enough of the fear tactics
Not convinced that 78 deaths out of 201 confirmed cases really constitutes having ‘managed really well’
Well of course a second wave is going to happen. Open up the campsites, the B&B’s, the self catering accommodation, hotels and of course the pubs and the virus will be everywhere. The last 3 months of lockdown will have been for nothing. Mainlanders will not just be bringing money with them. I fear for the safety of us all. I realize island businesses need money, but hey, LIVES ARE MORE IMPORTANT aren’t they IOW COUNCIL????????????????????????
since the initial lockdowns measures were lifted and more and more people are out and about, the number of cases has continued to fall – if there was going to be a second wave, we would have seen evidence of this already, as there hasn’t been any evidence, then further easing of measures is the correct way forward.
We need to return to normality asap. The council are making the right decisions.
if you are so worried, opinions matter, then stay in doors
Are you an eternal optimist or just an idiot?
With you all the way!!!
I ask our councillors to take notice of New Zealand as an excellent example of good management. Right at the start they shut their borders and had a strict lockdown. Have one if not the best results of cases I.e. lowest deaths and or infections. The U.K. were unfortunately much too slow to react. Here on the Isle of Wight cases would have been much lower as would the whole of the U.K. It was all about the money. If ( I pray to god it doesn’t) there is a sign of a second wave then apart from essential trips shut off the island. Lives ahead of profit should always be the number one priority the council should make. Stay safe it’s not over yet.
Someone who makes absolute sense. The UK is an island as are we here on the IOW. So many missed opportunities if only we could learn from them but sadly have no reason to think that we will.
5 more days and the cases of the virus will increase. I can only only think that most of the people posting here are most certainly mainlanders. If you don’t like the comments, hard luck. The island gets on quite well from not having many visitors, and if you believe the lies the tourist board and councillors and of course Bob Seely have to say then you really are dense.
Mark you are so right and make so much sense. Unfortunately sense doesn’t come into it and money matters over lives.
Second wave, it has happened in most countries so far, and if the abysmal record of the government on dealing with the virus is anything to go by…….. then there will be a second wave.
I just hope it doesn’t happen on the Island and when it happens on the mainland, i hope it isn’t worse than the first wave.
Whatever happened to common sense and free choice.If the masks are so great at preventing the virus (which they are not, as plenty of professionals will tell you… if not censored! ) Then why does anyone worry if we choose not to. It was not unsafe during the tyrannical lock down to shop and some to work with out it, so why now?
Just ask yourself this! When do you see our leaders( boris) or any leader of a country wear a mask? Why?
Boris Johnson got it though didn’t he and a few have tested positive!!!
Seems that people are not understanding!!! Wearing a mask will not shield you from the virus, BUT if you are infected it will lessen the effect of you passing it on. SOoo. If we all wear a mask the chances of passing it on are reduced. Not so difficult to understand is it?
Just seen a rugby match happening in New Zealand , crowds watching and no social distancing. They had 22 deaths in a population of 4 million, that’s what a strict lockdown can do, makes our lsland figures look like a disaster