Coronavirus: Isle of Man to ease lockdown restrictions

Businesses, beaches and burial grounds all to reopen – but borders will remain shut

Douglas, Isle of Man (Getty/iStock)

The Isle of Man has begun easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions after the island’s government announced some businesses could reopen from 6am Saturday.

Gardeners, painters, decorators, tradespeople and construction workers are among those allowed to return to work if they follow social distancing rules.

A ban on non-essential journeys has also been lifted, while recycling centres, hardware stores and builders’ merchants will open again. People will be allowed to go to beaches and recycling centres once more.

The easing of measures comes despite two more people dying on the island on Friday after testing positive for Covid-19. The total death toll there now stands at 18. A single nursing home, Abbotswood, has accounted for 13 of the fatalities.

Announcing the new rules, chief minister Howard Quayle said: “This is not about relaxing our measures. We are adjusting them to meet a medium-term, sustainable, fairer and healthier balance.”

But he added: “Yes, you can kick a football in the park. Yes, you can walk along the promenade or through a glen. Yes, you can do your yoga on the beach. But with people from your household. We are not yet in a position where we can allow you to do this with your extended family or your friends.

“I know not being able to meet with friends and family is tough. And I hope that we will be able to make this change before too long. But we are not ready to make that change yet.”

Mr Quayle – who himself tested positive for the virus earlier this month – said the island’s borders would stay closed and a temporary national speed limit of 40 mph would remain in place for the time being.

But the decision was not made without controversy.

In a video posted online, one of the island’s top doctors, Martin Rankin, who works for the Manx Emergency Doctors Service, insisted restrictions should remain in place until two weeks after there were no new cases.

“Please do not relax the lockdown until we have the disease eradicated,” he said. “Only then can we open shops and enjoy the island’s summer.”