Manx border remains an "integral part of our defences" against coronavirus says Chief Minister

The Isle of Man (Manx: Mannin) border will remain closed because it is "not the moment to make significant changes", the Manx chief minister, Howard Quayle has said. The Isle of Man became the first place in the British and Irish Isles to live without lockdown and to end social distancing on Monday 15th June. Although it is now 27 days since the island last had an active case of coronavirus, Howard Quayle told Tynwald (Manx: Tinvaal), which is the legislature of the Isle of Man, that the border remained an "integral part of our defences" against the disease.

The Chief Minister also said it was the aim to revoke a third one-month extension to the island's state of emergency, which came into effect on Monday, by 23 June. The state of emergency allows regulations to be introduced at short notice, but any such rules would cease to have power once it has ended. It has been used to bring in coronavirus regulations, the majority of which were lifted on Monday. However, some remain in effect, including the border closure and the requirement for those showing symptoms of Covid-19 to self-isolate for 14 days. Mr Quayle said a short extension would allow the government to "finalise which of the current suite of emergency regulations" were required after the proclamation was revoked.