Manx Care has admitted it is ‘under pressure’ amidst the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the island.

Last week, the number of active cases here topped 1,000.

When the Examiner went to press last night, the figure had risen to sit at 1,360.

Latest figures published by the government on Monday afternoon reported 208 new cases had emerged in the last 24 hours.

The total figure has risen from 1,070 on Friday.

Five people remain in hospital with the virus, with none in the intensive care unit at present.

The government’s weekly surveillance report released on Thursday blamed patterns of travel around the school half-term and changes to testing requirements for the uptick in cases.

The current seven-day average for reported positive results is 109, whilst the effective reproduction number (Rt) is 2.14 – up from 1.77 the week before.

Due to the current high level of community spread, Manx Care has confirmed it will be reopening the Covid ward at Noble’s Hospital.

It stated that at this time, the service hoped to maintain all outpatient clinics plus its elective programmes but the hospital is cancelling all non-essential training to ensure staff are free to work shifts if possible.

In a statement from the organisation, Manx Care described the situation as being ‘continually monitored’.

High level of staff absence is also affecting the normal running of the hospital, with around 12% to 13% of staff currently absent.

As a result, the health service put out a plea on Friday (March 11) for all non-ward based clinically registered staff to work extra shifts.

Manx Care’s chief executive, Teresa Cope, said: ‘Noble’s Hospital is under pressure.

‘We are currently at Opel 3* so have issued a request to all clinically registered staff to work extra shifts.

‘We hope this is a temporary measure but will be reviewing the situation regularly and updating the public with any changes.

‘Living with Covid means just that, figures will fluctuate but we need to protect our patients and staff while ensuring essential services continue to run.’

Opel means ‘Operational Pressures and Escalation Levels’ and is used by most hospitals.

It ranges from level one, which essentially means ‘business as usual’ through to level four, which means ‘severe pressure’.

Manx Care is encouraging people to approach their pharmacist for help if possible, and to visit the Minor Injuries Unit at Ramsey District Cottage Hospital rather than the ED Department at Noble’s where applicable due to the staff shortages.

The service has also reinstated Covid measures, whist the same measures are being scaled back elsewhere.

For instance, from Wednesday, March 9, the use of face masks widened across Manx Care settings.

Updated visiting polices also came into place on that date.