Chief Minister Howard Quayle told Tynwald he was ’disappointed’ with an MHK for making an analogy about quarantine and prison.

Daphne Caine said some prisoners in the island have more outdoor time than those in quarantine at the Comis Hotel.

The Chief Minister had previously confirmed following a question from his Middle colleague Bill Shimmins there would be no changes made to the quarantine procedures.

Mrs Caine asked: ’Would the Chief Minister agree with me that convicted criminals who are serving a sentence at the Isle of Man Prison seem to have more free time to go outside or have association than our returning residents?’

The Garff MHK said returning residents are only allowed out for one hour a day and questioned whether there was the political will to change that.

And she asked if a monitoring board was available to provide those who are quarantined with any assistance if they are struggling with their mental health or other issues.

When Mrs Caine went to ask a further question, she was asked by President Steve Rodan to allow Mr Quayle, who could be heard saying ’this is like War and Peace’ during Mr Rodan’s intervention, to answer her previous questions.

Mr Quayle said: ’I am very disappointed with the honourable member using the analogy of convicted criminals.

’We have asked our medics to come up with a system whereby we can safely bring our people home but without damaging the other 99.7% of the population.

’We have come up with a system which is working.

’Of course, I’m sure everyone would like to go straight home and self-isolate but the medics felt the risk of a second spike as a result of the illness being brought into the island through repatriation was too great and they came up with a system.’

He said that if it is possible to amend the rules on exercise at the Comis Hotel then they would look to do that but denounced the idea the hotel was like a prison.

Mr Quayle said: ’I expect better from the honourable member.’