The government is to seek exemptions for Manx residents needing to travel through the UK.

Plans to introduce quarantine measures for people arriving in the UK are being discussed by the Westminster government.

Under those proposals, all people arriving in the UK would be required to enter into quarantine for 14 days.

This would be similar to current conditions imposed on Manx residents who are quarantined at the Comis Hotel. However, unlike here, it appears that UK residents would be trusted to remain at an address of their choosing and would not have to pay for their quarantine.

isolation

For Manx residents, this could leave them facing a month in isolation, two weeks in the UK and two weeks here.

In Tynwald, Clare Barber (Douglas East MHK) asked Chief Minister Howard Quayle what support his government was prepared to offer these residents in terms of access to medicines and support.

Mr Quayle said he is in weekly contact with the UK Justice department.

He added: ’We have not seen any proposals yet from the United Kingdom’s government on how they will operate this. But when we are in discussions with them, we will be putting across the concerns of Isle of Man residents who will be passing through their jurisdiction.’

The Chief Minister said he was hopeful that Manx residents arriving in the UK would be able to be exempted from the UK measures and allowed to travel to Heysham and back to the island.

These residents would still be required to enter quarantine.

The cost of their repatriation to the island, capped at £1,000, includes sea travel and 14 days at the Comis Hotel where three meals a day are provided but extras such as soft drinks are charged.