Every returnee to be checked on now border team 'at full capacity'

Self-isolating residents to receive at least a phone call

Every Manx resident who returns to the Island is to be checked-on by the Travel Notification Service, to ensure they're self-isolating for 14 days.

The Island's border team, created when government moved to Level 4 of its border framework, has now been fully staffed.

Up until now, government says the team has called around one-in-three returnees, and visited 145.

Between 20 July and 12 August, 2559 people arrived back in the Island - that's more than 600 a week.

Now the agency has reached full capacity, government says every person self isolating will receive at least a phone call. 

The maximum penalty for breaching quarantine is three months in prison and/or a £10,000 fine.

Due to the team being created quickly, not all positions were immediately filled.

It now employs around 60 staff, covering the Covid-111 line, Travel Notification Service, and the Ports Access Team.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ‘We have great confidence that the vast majority of residents who return to the Island follow self-isolation rules to the letter, for the sake of the wider community.'

'Our prolonged Covid-free status is the result of superb levels of compliance by the public during the pandemic and I am grateful for everyone’s efforts.' 
 
‘The new service requires significant resources and it has taken time to build capacity.

'We must ensure that the team is properly trained for the very specific job we want them to do.'

'The Travel Notification Service swung into operation once we made the decision to move to level 4, but didn’t expect to be able to contact each individual from day one.'

'Now that resources have been strengthened, everyone can expect to get a call and the number of home visits will increase.'
 
Mr Quayle adds: ‘I cannot over emphasise the importance to our Manx community that everyone who travels off Island must self-isolate when they return.'

'This is our main defence against another outbreak of Covid-19 in the community.'

'Spot checks are an important deterrent but they don’t provide a guarantee that people will comply for the full two week period.'

'We rely on people’s honesty and willingness to do the right thing. The rules of engagement are clear and I urge anyone considering a trip off Island to understand the commitment required to stay home when they return.’ 
 
Each person returning to the Island receives a Direction Notice setting out the requirement for them to self-isolate.

In addition to phone calls, unscheduled visits are made to the addresses of a randomly generated list of people required to self-isolate.

If a person is not at their address and cannot be contacted - or is found to be in breach of the rules - officers will contact the police.
 
Members of the public who are concerned somebody is breaching self-isolation can contact the Community Support and Information line on 686262.