The Health Minister has responded to criticism over the launch of private seven-day Covid-19 tests.

David Ashford told last week’s Covid press briefing that private testing, fixed at a price of £50, for those require confirmation of being Covid-free for travel, is now available.

But molecular biologist Dr Rachel Glover, who resigned as one of the island’s leading scientists in the Covid-19 testing lab in October, was dismayed at the announcement.

She tweeted: ’So let me get this straight.

’The DHSC are going to sell private Covid-19 testing using the goodwill at cost reagents my company supplies to them for the good of the IoM population during a pandemic?

’Someone somewhere must think I’m a fool.’

But Mr Ashford told the Examiner: ’Reagents are purchased from a number of companies, and once purchased we consider carefully how and where to use it, based on need, demand and where it will bring benefit to our people.

’We are fighting this pandemic on various fronts and doing our utmost to maximise use of resources. The price at which the product is sold doesn’t, as far as I know, have any contractual limitations on purpose of use.’

He pointed out that the £50 charge is the same as that which was previously in place for seven-day testing for returning residents, and the price is set at the costs involved of conducting and processing the test - it does not generate a profit for the department.