COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached the British crown dependency of the Isle of Man on 19 March 2020, when a man returning from Spain via Liverpool tested positive.[2] Community transmission was first confirmed on 22 March on the island.[3] As of 3 June, there have been 336 confirmed cases, of which 312 have presumably recovered and 24 have died.[1] There are currently no known active cases on the island.[1][4]
| COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Isle of Man |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Arrival date | 19 March 2020 (3 months and 9 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 336 [1] |
| Recovered | 312 [1][lower-alpha 1] |
Deaths | 24 [1] (as of 26 June 2020) |
| Government website | |
| Isle of Man Government COVID-19 | |
The government announced the closure of the island's borders and ports to new arrivals from 27 March 2020, with the exception of freight and key workers.[1][5]
Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[6][7]
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[8][9] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[10][8] From 19 March, Public Health England no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease".[9]
Timeline
January 2020
The Manx government said that the "risk to the public is low"[11] and that the island is "ready to respond to the Wuhan novel coronavirus should a potential case of the disease arrive here."
March 2020
In March, the Manx government again said that the risk to the public was "moderate to low".[12] Despite the government downplaying the risk, hand sanitiser was sold out in shops.
The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have spread to the Isle of Man when the first case on the island was confirmed on 19 March. The patient had returned from a trip to Spain four days previously, via a flight through Liverpool.[2] On 26 March, two COVID-19 patients were admitted to Noble's Hospital.[13]
At the end of Thursday 26 March, the Isle of Man Government started to "require everyone to stay at home except for limited reasons",[14] several days after the United Kingdom imposed similar restrictions.[15]
April 2020
On 1 April, Chief Minister Howard Quayle announced the first COVID-19-related death on the Isle of Man.[16] On 6 April, 12 cases were reported and 6 people were receiving treatment in Noble's Hospital.[17]
On 15 April the Department of Health and Social Care announced it had taken over the running of one of the island's major care homes, Abbotswood Care Home, 'for the safety of its residents'.[18]
On 18 April Health Minister David Ashford confirmed that there had been two deaths that day in care homes – the first recorded deaths on the island outside of hospital – and that there were 37 confirmed cases at the Abbotswood Care Home.[19] 11 people were being treated in hospital and a total of 2,319 test results had been received, with 296 testing positive, of which 12 were under 20 years of age and 74 over the age of 65.[20]
On 23 April a minor change to the lockdown rules was made allowing people to be outside their houses for as long as they liked, provided they were only with members of their own household.[21]
From 24 April builders, tradespersons and landscape gardeners were permitted to return to work, subject to social distancing.
May 2020
Garden centres opened from 11th of May, and some non-essential shops and other retail businesses were allowed to open from Monday, the 18th May.[22]. The last case diagnosed was on the 20th of May.
June 2020
On 3 June it was announced that there were no active cases. From 15 June gatherings of 30 people will be permitted, restaurants, pubs and cafes will be allowed to serve food and gyms would be partially opened.[23] On 11 June it was announced that from 15 June restrictions on social distancing were to be lifted except in health and care environments.[24]
On 25 June it was announced that an "air-bridge" run by Aurigny would open in July to allow travel between the Isle of Man and Guernsey without quarantine restrictions.[25]
Testing
The first test results were received on 17 March 2020, by 31 March there had been 60 positive and 853 negative tests. By 30 April this had increased to 315 positive and 2,764 negative tests. On 31 May the totals had risen to 336 positive and 4,510 negative tests. On 22 June the number of tests undertaken passed 6,000.[26]
A drive through Covid-19 testing facility opened on 20 March at the TT Grandstand. A blood test looking for antibodies was later set up to better understand the virus and its effect on the population. The Isle of Man Government set up its own testing facility on 20 April with a capacity for 200 tests per day with a 24 hour turnaround.[27]
Response
Measures introduced in the Isle of Man to protect against the virus included mandatory 14-day self-isolation for anyone travelling to the island, and increased testing for the virus.[28] The government announced that Manx borders would close to non-residents at 9 am on 23 March 2020.[29] The government confirmed via Twitter that all schools on the island would be closed by the end of 23 March 2020.[30]
On 27 March 2020, the government closed its borders and ports except for key workers, and banned public gatherings of more than two people unless from the same household.[1]
After 15 April 2020, Isle of Man residents living overseas who wished to return to the island would be able to obtain a permit to sail back on designated sailings once a week, subject to 14 days quarantine on arrival.[31]
Relief and assistance
Mortgage repayment holidays of up to three months made available to residents from the seven Island banks.[32]
An Isle of Man Loan Guarantee Agreement for local businesses with a turnover of up to £10m, loans of £5,000 to £5m for terms of up to 10 years. Limited to £60m in total.[33]
Statistics
New cases
Total confirmed cases and deaths
See also
Notes
- The Isle of Man Government defines "presumed recovered" as "completion of the standard 14 day period following the onset of symptoms from cases that tested positive. These cases have either self-isolated at home or have returned home after discharge from hospital."
External links
- Coronavirus information from the Isle of Man Government
References
- "Coronavirus (COVID-19)". Isle of Man Government. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "BREAKING: First case of Coronavirus confirmed on Isle of Man". Energy FM. 19 March 2020.
- "Island closes borders, schools to shut as first community transmission of virus emerges". IOM Today. 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- "Coronavirus: No active cases remain on Isle of Man". BBC News. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Isle of Man to close borders in bid 'to preserve life'". BBC. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- "Isle of Man Government - Island is prepared to deal with coronavirus". www.gov.im. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
- Ashford, David (3 March 2020). "Coronavirus: Isle of Man update part one". YouTube. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus: Isle of Man sees first patients hospitalised". BBC. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- "Isle of Man Government - Statement by the Chief Minister on COVID-19 – 25 March 2020". www.gov.im. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- "Boris Johnson: 'You must stay at home'". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- "Coronavirus: First death on Isle of Man confirmed". BBC. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus Isle of Man: 12 more cases confirmed". BBC News. 6 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- "DHSC takes over nursing home for 'residents' safety'". Manx Radio.
- "Two more Covid-19 deaths confirmed". Manx Radio.
- "Minister Ashford's Statement on COVID-19 - 18 April 2020". Isle of Man government. 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "Chief Minister's Statement on COVID-19 - 23 April 2020". iom gov. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- "Daily confirmed cases As at 5.15pm on 14 May 2020". iom gov. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- Vannin, Ellan (4 June 2020). "Coronavirus: Gatherings of 30 to be allowed in 'new Manx normal'". BBC News.
- Vannin, Ellan (11 June 2020). "Coronavirus: Isle of Man to scrap social distancing rules". BBC News.
- "Guernsey and Isle of Man agree 'air bridge' deal". ITV News. 25 June 2020.
- "Latest updates". Isle of Man Government. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- "Testing for COVID-19". Isle of Man Government. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- "Man in custody for breaching self-isolation laws". Manx Radio. 20 March 2020.
- "Island borders to close for non-residents". 3FM. 22 March 2020.
- Isle of Man Government [@IOMGovernment] (22 March 2020). "Schools in the #IsleofMan will close to most children from the end of the school day tomorrow, 23 March 2020 until further notice. Dhoon School and Ballasalla School which will close from tonight because of staffing pressures. #coronavirus" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Travel and borders". IOM Gov. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
- "Mortgage repayment holiday". IOM Gov. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
- "Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan". IOM Gov. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
