Taking a COVID-19 test is one of the ‘right things’ tourists should do before visiting the Isle of Wight, according to the Isle of Wight Council’s chief executive.
Laid out last week by the Prime Minister, the roadmap to opening the country has caused concerns the Island could see more infections as more tourists visit, despite over 50,000 people having been vaccinated across the Island to date.
The Isle of Wight has already been reaching top spots in searches for holiday destinations as people look to have a summer as normal as possible, in ‘staycations’ close to home.
Under the second step of the roadmap, no earlier than 12th April, domestic overnight stays in household groups will be allowed and most outdoor activities opened. In the third step and no earlier than 17th May, overnight stays will be open for all with international travel subject to review. It is also the stage where indoor hospitality, entertainment and attractions can open.
Speaking at at a meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s health and social care scrutiny committee, Councillor Michael Lilley said while the Island’s economy is very linked to visitors, due to the spike of cases over Christmas, people are worried it will happen again.
The Isle of Wight Council’s chief executive, John Metcalfe, said being a year into the pandemic now the council has ‘very effective tools’ available to help protect the Island and its community but ‘that does not mean there is not more we can do’ and more options will be looked at.
Mr Metcalfe said there had been very good compliance from a great majority of businesses following guidelines but COVID support officers will be providing practical advice to businesses about what they can and cannot do.
He also said the council is working with tourism body Visit Isle of Wight to get messages to businesses but also marketing and promoting the Island while advising people to ‘do the right things’ before they visit. Those ‘right things’, he said, included ‘if they have the opportunity to have a COVID community test before they arrive, respecting the Island and its population and behaving in a Covid secure way’.
Through public health powers if an outbreak is in a particular area, Mr Metcalfe said they are able to take action and have now built up a localised test and tracing team to contact people quicker, and ultimately prevent further spread faster.
Simon Bryant, director of public health, said easing out of lockdown and following the roadmap will need to be managed ‘really carefully’ as some forecasted modelling outcomes had shown there could be an increase in cases.
Sorry to sound cynical, but at your meeting – where you exonerated yourselves of all blame from the huge increase in numbers of cases (which was due to the tourism promotion you allowed, when everyone else was closing up) who is going to finance this endeavour? the Council? or Public Health? or how about the Tourist Board who should be able to afford it due to the money they made from the last surge over here. Trying to sound as if you care, really!
waste of time, who will be checking – it is not the job of the ferry staff – they are employed to transfer people across the solent, not be traffic police and are not paid as enforcement officers.
OMG, someone creeping out of their winter hibernation at last. This has been suggested long ago, but ignored of course. NOW DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. Fail the test, no boarding permitted. Live, our lives, matter.
Do that … BUT what about all the islanders that go onto the mainland for work shopping and holidays !?
You could have 2 tests carried out by 2 different persons, and the results could be different.
What is the point
Then Islanders should take a test every time they visit the mainland! as it seems alot of workers go to the mainland every day and return so they should be tested as well!
Sorry to burst your bubble Mr Metcalfe, but without proper legally enforceable statutes on the books regarding testing this is just another idiotic exhalation of hot air from a Local Government Employee.
Yet another complete turnaround.
What planet is this clown on? Why should you need a covid test to travel from one part of England to another? And does this include those who cross the solent to work on the Island?
Can you really see this happening -NO-
Would be great if all coming over here for a holiday were COVID Negative having had a test. Just ‘hot air’ being spoken. Nothing will be put in place to protect the island from another COVID spike. Appreciate the island has got to open up and get the hospitality and attraction business’s making money but at what/who’s cost?????
This is a ridiculous, Cornwall and such places would have to put up road blocks etc. What are you people talking about!? If you want the cccp ,then move to China!
Wanted posters out on the Island for “Seldom seen” to do his job!! Some deluded idjeets must have voted for him! And stop toadying up to “The Brighstone Masonic Lodge”although to be fair nobody has” toadying”weighed up to a fine art”quite like “Seldom Seen”!
Quite an absurd off the cuff thing to say. Last time i checked we were part of the UNITED Kingdom. All in this together. We all know our responsibilities. A lockdown means a lockdown for all of us. When lifted, we`re as likely to go on holiday or travel from the island as others are to the island. We are also very likely to stay at home, if we are not well. I Dont hear the Council in Southampton for example saying you need to test before getting off the ferry. So where does Mr Conservative get his small state personal responsibility conservatism from? Mr Kim? Mr Xi?
This is the same Council that have given the go ahead for the Festival??
Just asking
Blaming anyone but themselves and their own shambles of a government for predicted second wave death toll hitting places like the island particularly hard. Like Bob, they blame us, visitors from Portsmouth but not those from London with second homes(?) and a lack of social distancing at the same time as they forcing them daily into situations where they cannot distance and even fail to take action against their own employers who prevent
people from self-isolating. Shameful distraction, victim blaming and gaslighting towards the bereaved and those who have suffered financial losses and other hardship through their party’s incompetence.
A bit late you should of done this in december when we were in level 1
Yea let’s have flaming torches and pitch forks as well . Get a grip .
advising people to ‘do the right things’ before they visit. Those ‘right things’, he said, included ‘if they have the opportunity to have a COVID community test before they arrive, respecting the Island and its population and behaving in a Covid secure way’.
Really… Out of all the thousands that will land on Islands shores how many do you8 think would have a Covid test before travelling here… let me guess…. ummm , NONE… !
Excuse me… if no overnight stays for tourists/visitors is allowed yet… where did all those tourist’s and visitors stay last weekend.. ?
Why are people travelling across to visit this Island ?? Lockdown.. Stay Home… what does that mean… Stay in UK.. ??
If that’s the case same should apply to Islanders visiting the mainland to shop in IKEA etc.
Won’t most be vaccinated by then? If that’s not good enough what’s the point of the vaccine
Can Mr Bryant elaborate on “Managed really carefully”