COVID-19 pandemic in the Isle of Man

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."

In March, the Manx government again said that the risk to the public was "moderate to low". Despite the government downplaying the risk, hand sanitiser was sold out in shops.[12]

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.[3] On 26 March, two COVID-19 patients were admitted to Noble's Hospital.[13]

At the end of 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]

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 whom 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.

Garden centres opened from 11 May, and some non-essential shops and other retail businesses were allowed to open from Monday 18 May.[22] 20 May was the last diagnosed case, until 6 September.

On 3 June, it was announced that there were no active cases.[2][23] From 15 June, gatherings of up to 30 people were permitted, restaurants, pubs and cafes were allowed to serve food and gyms were partially opened.[24] On 11 June, it was announced that from 15 June restrictions on social distancing were to be lifted except in health and care environments.[25]

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.[26]

Starting on 6 July, people who have been on the island for more than 14 days and who feel ill are no longer required by law to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of if they test positive. Instead, people are asked to be tested and self-isolate until test results return. If the test result is negative and the person feels well, then self-isolation is no longer required. If the test result is positive, then the process is the same as before: self-isolation for 14 days, along with any household members.[27]

It was announced on 6 September a resident returning from the UK had self-isolated for 7 days, and then had a test. This was positive. They self-isolated for a further 14 days. It was stressed the risk to the public is extremely low.

A man who had returned to the Island and failed to isolate for the required 14 days was jailed for 28 days.[28]

A man who crossed the Irish Sea from the Isle of Whithorn, Scotland to Ramsey on a personal watercraft to visit his girlfriend in Douglas was jailed for 4 weeks on 14 December for arriving unlawfully on the island.[29]

The Island entered a second lockdown on 7 January with all non essential shops, hospitality and schools closing.[30]

On 1 February, the island lifted all COVID-19 restrictions at 00:01 GMT after 20 days of no unexplained community cases. All schools reopened and all shops and pubs were allowed to have customers unrestricted. It became the only place in the British Islands without social distancing.[31]

On 3 March, the Chief Minister placed the island into a third lockdown after a spike in cases. The stay at home order was reintroduced and all schools and non-essential businesses were closed. The island had recorded an increase in unexplained cases, a number of which were recorded in schools.[32]

Bill Shimmins MHK criticised the Government's lack of earlier action, calling it a "slow-motion train crash". The Chief Minister stated that there was insufficient data to support measures at an earlier date.

All restrictions were lifted again on 19 April, apart from certain measures in health and social care settings.

On 28 June, the borders opened to people in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who have had two vaccine doses, provided two weeks have elapsed since their second dose.

From 14 July, lateral flow test kits for self-testing were introduced on the Island, free of charge from pharmacies and schools. It was confirmed on 22 July that over 140,000 had been ordered for the Island, costing the Isle of Man Government around £440,000.

Both Chief Minister Howard Quayle and Health Minister David Ashford confirmed that the Island would not enter a fourth lockdown, but they will be open to adding restrictions such as social distancing and/or no indoor mixing if necessary.

The Isle of Man Department for Enterprise on 16 March 2020 formally announced the cancellation of the 2020 Isle of Man TT motorcycle races, planned to be held between 30 May and 11 June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[42]

The traditional annual July open-air sitting of Tynwald, after the threat of cancellation due to the COVID-19 outbreak, was held at St John's on Monday 6 July 2020,[43] but the event was scaled back in size and the Summer Tynwald Fair was cancelled. The petitions of redress from members of the public had to be submitted prior to the event.

The Pre-TT Classic Races were cancelled on Monday 16 March 2020 along with Southern 100 motor-cycle races and the Post-TT races were cancelled on Wednesday 18 March 2020.[44] The Clerk of the Course cancelled the Manx National Rally due to be held on 15–16 May 2020 organised by Manx Autosport and the Manx Motor Racing Club cancelled the Manx Classic Hill Climb event. The Easter Festival of Running was also cancelled along with the Manx Mountain Marathon fell race.[45] The Isle of Man Department for Enterprise and the Manx Motor-Cycle Club announced on Monday 4 May 2020 the cancellation of the 2020 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling including the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT motor-cycle races.[46]

The Isle of Man's largest community sporting event, the 85 mile Parish Walk, due to be held on Saturday 20 June 2020, was cancelled by the race director on 23 March.[47] The English Football Association instructed the Isle of Man Football Association on 27 March to declare both senior and junior football competitions null and void for the 2019–2020 season.[48] The Douglas football club St Marys A.F.C. held a six-point lead at the top of the Isle of Man Premier football league at the date of cancellation.[49]