National COVID Response Group to meet on Sunday

Council of Ministers will also convene following Omicron concerns

The Isle of Man's National COVID Response Group will meet tomorrow (Sunday) to consider how to respond to the new Coronavirus variant Omicron. 

The chief minister says this will be followed by a meeting of the Council of Ministers. 

This evening the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced increased restrictions around international travel to the UK, and mandatory face coverings on public transport and in shops, would be brought in. 

Responding Alfred Cannan said: “We have always said that we stand ready to act should a new variant of concern emerge. 

"There is much still unknown about this new variant but there are concerns on its transmissibility and the additional mutations which may have an impact on the vaccine effectiveness.

“The changes in the UK that require arrivals from anywhere in the world to undergo isolation until they receive a negative PCR result will have an impact here on our Island.  For example those travelling from outside the Common Travel Area.

“The overall message however remains that vaccination is important and boosters are extremely important and the UK has also said it will be looking to accelerate its programme.  

"We too will be considering all these aspects.

"The changes announced in the UK are precautionary and are hoped to be temporary in nature.”

Twenty-one people who travelled from South Africa to the Isle of Man in the last 10 days have now been contacted and testing for Covid-19 is underway.

The Isle of Man Government says so far the results have been negative.