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A ‘PERFECT storm’ is brewing with the combination of Brexit and COVID-19, according to the Deputy Chief Minister. Joseph Garcia said the consequences of this scenario could be felt ‘for years to come’ in a recent video conference call. The conversation on Sunday was part of the Liberal Democrat party conference held online from September 25-28. Garcia explained the challenges of a small nation like Gibraltar to deal with the pandemic and Brexit at the same time. This was made even tougher by the fact that the same ministers and officials were involved in decisions on both issues. He gave a basic outline of Gibraltar’s discussions with Spain and the UK over the future relationship with the EU. The DCM stressed how he thought isolating the elderly saved lives and how the Golden Hour had been given approval by international experts. “Dr Garcia went over the success of the aggressive testing and contact tracing regime in Gibraltar,” said the Govern-
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Uncertainty “He told the panel that over 45,000 tests had been carried out in a population of 32,000 and that this placed Gibraltar third in the World. “He went on to highlight the serious economic impact of the pandemic and pointed to the provision of £150 million in the budget extension on Friday.” The leader of Gibraltar’s Liberal party told Orkney and Shetland LibDem MP Alistair Carmichael how both Scotland and Gibraltar had voted to remain in the EU. “Europe is in unchartered territory, in the sense that we face a pandemic with a threat to life and Brexit at the same time,” said Dr Garcia. “This is a time of uncertainty. “However, we can be certain that the economic, social and political effects of the situation we find ourselves in will be felt for a long time to come.” The meeting was chaired by Director of Gibraltar House in London, Dominique Searle.
CHRISTMAS celebrations are cancelled on the Rock, it has been revealed.
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No formal festivities will be allowed to go ahead as the Rock battles coronavirus By John Culatto
breaks at Westside School have put two classes and 11 staff members into self-isolation. Another case was also reported at St Anne’s Upper Primary School with four staff members and nine pupils sent home so far. The incidents have seen the contact tracing team working with school staff and the Department of Education to find out who has been affected. Staff members and students were interviewed to find anyone who had ‘close contact’ with the individuals concerned. As a result, nearly 20 staff members and around 30
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As Gibraltar counts 46 active COVID-19 cases, Fabian Picardo’s government has already announced that there will be no festive events this winter. The move is an attempt to keep contagion of COVID-19 as low as possible in the colder months. It comes as three out-
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students have been found to have been in close contact with the positive cases and all have been told to self-isolate. Close contact is defined as proximity within a closed area for longer than 15 minutes. The authorities have told all Westside School students to go to school as normal if they have not been contacted by the Contact Tracing Bureau. Gibraltar now has 46 active COVID-19 cases while the nearby area has nearly 600. The Rock’s efficient testing and isolating system has helped keep cases under control while the Campo de Gibraltar suffers. The combined populations of Algeciras, La
Linea, Los Barrios, San Roque and Tarifa have all recorded more cases than ever before.
Deal Although more than 1,100 have recovered since March, new cases are being identified every day. Although these towns have a higher population count than the British Territory, they have also had more deaths from COVID-19. Ten schools with classes were placed in self-isolation since September 10 when they re-opened in the region. In a recent deal the St John Ambulance signed an agreement with the Government to transport asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.