No Change to Date for Ending Covid Laws

The gov still expects the island to remove Covid regs at the end of March, despite neighbouring jurisdictions beginning to ditch theirs.

Today saw Guernsey end all Covid laws, including the requirement to isolate. Meanwhile Northern Ireland has removed all but a few of its Covid laws, with England expect to follow soon.

A statement from the gov tonight said: ‘The Isle of Man Government intends to remove all COVID-19 restrictions on 31 March. This allows additional time for remaining vulnerable cohorts (notably vulnerable 5 – 11 year olds) to get the much needed protection from the vaccine.

‘Border restrictions were eased last week to reflect changes to rules in England, making travel easier.  This is a positive step forward as the Island learns to live with COVID-19. The Council of Ministers is aware of the changes happening or being considered in England and the Channel Islands, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.’

Guernsey

Often our nearest partners in Covid regs (remember the airbridge) Guernsey has shot ahead of the Isle of Man in removing all Covid laws from today.

Positive cases are no longer legally required to self-isolate, although they are still being encouraged to do so to prevent further outbreaks in the community. Travel restrictions have also been scrapped, meaning there is no need for arriving passengers to fill in the Travel Tracker or undergo testing at the border.

Dr Nicola Brink, Guernsey’s Director of Public Health, has said: ‘The support of islanders, including the huge take-up of the vaccination programme, has put us in the position where we can now move with confidence towards the ongoing management of the virus outside of emergency regulations. 

‘We have said this previously but it is not within our gift to say the pandemic is over; it is for the World Health Organization to make that distinction. But what we can say is that we, in the Bailiwick, are now moving towards treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease. This is a huge step forward for us.’

Northern Ireland

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, the Health Minister has revoked all remaining Covid-19 restrictions, so rules that were formerly legally binding are now just guidance. Unlike the rest of the UK, the Northern Irish health ministry says it technically never ordered people with Covid to isolate, it was only ever strongly advised, something which remains in place.

The BBC has reported that: ‘If you are fully vaccinated and travelling to Northern Ireland from a country outside the Common Travel Area, you do not have to take a pre or post-departure test or self-isolate on arrival. However you must complete a UK passenger locator form in the 48 hours before you arrive and be able to prove your vaccination status.

‘f you are not fully vaccinated you must complete a UK passenger locator form in the 48 hours before you arrive and be able to prove your vaccination status. You must also book and pay for a pre-departure PCR or LFD test to be taken in the two days before you travel to Northern Ireland and book and pay for a PCR test to be taken on or before day two following arrival.’