Government are encouraging individuals to take lateral flow tests before Christmas parties. This advice is intended to help to enable events to go ahead safely, and to help minimise disruption to hospitality businesses this festive period. The Government are recommending that individuals do the following: Take an LFD test twice […]
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Manx Residents can now use NHS to show vaccine status
Isle of Man residents can now view and show their COVID-19 vaccination status through the NHS App. The NHS App is being made available in the Island following development work over several months by DHSC teams in the Isle of Man and UK alongside, NHS Digital and NHS England. The app, […]
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Chamber urges against Christmas cancel culture
Chief Executive asks businesses to ‘consider the impact’ on local trade and hospitality when cancelling festive bookings
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Manx Care remind public to wear medical grade masks
Manx Care has announced that medical grade IIR fluid-resistant facemasks must be worn in all of the health and social care settings it operates across the Island, in line with new Covid-19 guidance announced by the Chief Minister last night. This includes including Noble’s Hospital, Ramsey District Cottage Hospital, Primary […]
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IOM GOV BRIEFING – 12th MARCH
Howard, David, Dr Henny Well good afternoon everyone. Sad news that another member of our community has lost their life to Covid-19 My heart goes out to family and friends. Sincere condolences The unhappy fact is that Covid has taken so many lives around the world We have now tragically […]
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Skelly – Our Brand Remains Strong
Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly has told Gef we have to keep our economy moving forward, particularly as we emerge from the pandemic. He said that every department has faced its challenges during the pandemic but that thanks to the island having a strong economy prior to the pandemic, we have […]
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Islander Dies from Covid
A patient at Noble’s Hospital has died of COVID-19. This is the first death from the virus in the Isle of Man since 5 November 2020. It takes the total number of people to have lost their lives to the virus on the island to 26. Chief Minister, Howard Quayle […]
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Amenity Sites Will Reopen As Soon As Possible
A joint statement has been issued on behalf of the operators of the island’s four civic amenity sites in response to questions about whether they should be closed during the latest lockdown. It reads: ‘The four civic amenity sites take very seriously the ongoing pandemic and have collectively worked together […]
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Steam Packet Company Announces Changes To Weekend Schedule
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced a change to its sailing schedule this weekend due to COVID-19-related matters. All of the Ben-my-Chree’s scheduled crossings for the next 24 hours have been cancelled. This includes today’s (Friday 12th March) 08.45am and 7.45pm to Heysham, and the return […]
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IOM Gov Update – 11 March
Howard, David, Dr Al, Dr Henny Well good afternoon everyone Hope you’ve looked at the Exit framework, a clearer understanding of the road ahead A point on data – I know people are carefully following numbers I know there is a wish to see more, there is a dashboard coming […]
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Steam Packet ‘Debacle’ – a Constitutional Crisis?
A senior advocate has said that the ongoing row over the state owned Steam Packet and isolation rules for its crew raises issues around the separation of powers and possible breaches of the Government Code. Ian Kermode, who is the sole practitioner from his Court View Chambers, has also written […]
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Universities: Another Tragedy of COVID-19
Apparently, I am a university student. I haven’t had any in person learning since March. I was planning to return to a vastly different experience this month with all lectures online but at least the tutorials in person. Now even that has changed. My head is all over the place […]
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OCD in a pandemic
I’ve had obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since I was a child, and I like to think I’ve got a pretty good handle on it after years of careful management.
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Extraordin-elderly People
Bob and Peggy have a lot in common: as well as being in their 90’s, they have both raised incredible amounts for money for charities on the Isle of Man recently.
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GEF’S GOOD NEWS
Here’s your weekly round up of all things GOOD Community Efforts Last Saturday, Jake Hodgson completed a 24-hour bike ride on the track around the NSC hockey pitch in memory of Ballakermeen teacher, Carol Synott, who sadly passed away on the 5th of May. The bike ride was only a […]
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I (will) do – a postponed wedding and an at home stag do
Because the fun doesn’t have to stop in lockdown
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Home Is Where The Art Is – Best Bits
Here’s some of our favourite videos so far!
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Pandemic Problem Solving: A guide to coronavirus support schemes
Looking for COVID-19 financial support but uncertain what you’re eligible for?
Claire is here to help!
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IOM GOV DAILY UPDATE – 12TH MAY
SOZ WE’RE LATE. TYNWALD AND ALL THAT
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY!
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Cycling ‘The Lap’ with Anna Christian
Being part of the global sport that is cycling, and with friends based in all corners of the world, I’ve heard so much about how different countries are handling this pandemic and the restrictions they have in place. I feel so lucky that our lockdown has allowed us to still […]
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National Speed Limit Survey – The Results
Well, while I was expecting this survey to garner some debate I wasn’t quite anticipating it to receive the response it did! Over 1,100 people have completed the survey across a well distributed age range which, whilst I’m no statistician, actually makes the results a statistically significant representation of our […]
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GEF’S GOOD NEWS
Community Efforts As always there have been so many amazing efforts in support of others this week. Every week our island manages to prove how close our community is. This week Heather Maddrell offered some of her abstract paintings in exchange for nothing but a donation to the Friends of […]
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Dr Who? When to trust online health information
My colleagues in the medical field are making massive sacrifices every day because of this virus and you can bet your Aunt Mildred that they’d be shouting it from the rooftops if they’d found a solution.
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On the Frontline: The Samaritans listening to you through the pandemic
Many Samaritans are pulling out all the stops… How does it feel going into work when such a large proportion of the population are staying home?
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Pandemic problem solving: What do I do if my child’s other parent can’t pay maintenance?
As COVID-19 spreads around Europe, most people’s knee jerk worry has been the health of themselves and their loved ones. The second is how they will pay for them to live in a now tightly-restricted economy. So, what should you do if you’re a primary carer and your child’s other […]
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Jak’s Group: Head up. Chin up. Stand together.
We’re not sure when we’ll be going pint with our mates again, selfishly we’re gutted. But we feel more for the hospitality entreprenuers who have had to close the doors on to their businesses.
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View From a Duvet: Teenage life during lockdown.
Most of us are just enjoying our daily exercise, and are tuning into Howard’s 4pm press conference like it’s the next episode of Love Island…
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Stay at home!… if you have one
To most the message is very clear “stay at home”, but what if you don’t have a home to stay at home in?
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The Isle of Man: An ode to the isolation paradise
Earlier this month, I was meant to be starting my travels, first stop Manila. Now, it looks like my future will be weeding the garden at the mercy of my landlady/mother – but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else…
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Tesco staff to help tackle domestic abuse
Chief Constable Gary Roberts, of the Isle of Man Constabulary, said that calls to police were up 145% this month, compared to April 2019.
Next week, the force is rolling out a scheme with Tesco so that those who need support can approach staff in-store, rather than getting in touch from their own home.
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YOUTH IOM GOV COVID-19 BRIEFING
OVER TO THE KIDS TO ASK DR AL THE QUESTIONS THEY WANT ANSWERS TO
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Some of our fave press conference moments so far
Things have always been pretty unique here on the Isle of Man. We’re an island that has cats with no tails, we don’t say the word r.a.t and we say ‘Hello!’ to the fairies when driving over their bridge, but weird wonders are also present in our press conferences – could you imagine BoJo having banter with the news reporters like HQ and Ashy do?
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Business in the time of coronavirus – Mannin Group
If ever there was a time for the Isle of Man Government to go into debt – it’s now.
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The Impact of Lockdown on Cycle 360 – How it feels to close your Business.
We caught up with the guys at Cycle 360 who are now offering virtual fitness classes…
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Happy 6th Birthday to One Man’s Trash
Today, shall I…
Well, one of us is trying desperately to motivate herself to do something good for the planet!
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Manx Pandemic Baby: Let’s Hear It for the Jane
At a time where our “One Born Every Minute” culture dictates that labour is a painful and scary time (it need not be by the way, but that’s another article), adding a generalised anxiety state like a pandemic, for instance, is less than ideal….
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IOM GOV DAILY UPDATE – 15TH APRIL
FEAT DR AL ALLINSON UPDATE 2 MORE CASES SINCE THIS MORNING. ANOTHER SAD DAY FOR OUR ISLAND. THE FAMOUS KUSH IS FEATURING IN SOME FILMS FROM THE WILDLIFE PARK TEAM – WORTH A WATCH GOOD TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THINGS – ENJOY A LITTLE REMINDER OF LIFE AT THE PARK […]
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Loo roll, libation, and self isolation
I think most of us, women, men, and children alike, are hitting that point in lockdown where dates and time no longer have meaning and we’re waking up each day like Robin Williams after he’s emerged from Jumanji after 25 years; hairy, perplexed, and asking what year it is.
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Covid Communications #3 -Why I Wish I Was on Lockdown in the Isle of Man.
Speech is silver, silence is golden…
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Managing your mental health during a lockdown 🔑
Let’s face it, if we’d been told 12 months ago that we’d be spending our lives quarantined in our own homes to help combat a pandemic flu which originated in bats, many of us would have shook our heads and said ‘I could never do that, I just wouldn’t cope’…
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The Boston Tea Party: Eating for the island
Eating and supporting local businesses?! We’re in.
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Corona Communications #2 – Why I Wish I Was in Lockdown on the Isle of Man.
It’s difficult to appreciate what we’ve got in times like this, Bevan puts things into perspective so we can celebrate the good stuff about being in isolation on the beautiful Isle of Man
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IOM GOV DAILY UPDATE – 7th APRIL
FEAT – ASHY THE NUMBERS 1730 TESTS 205 WAITING 1525 CONCLUDED 150 CONFIRMED 6 IN HOSPITAL 2 IN ICU – BEING VENTILATED 17 IN NOBLES AWAITING TEST RESULTS 73 PRESUMED RECOVERED 76 ACTIVATED 40 CAPACITY OF WARDS 1 & 2 50 BEDS IN NEWLANDS TO BECOME AVAILABLE UPDATE HOWARD HAS MILD […]
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IOM GOV DAILY UPDATE: 1PM SPECIAL-7TH APRIL
A 1PM TREASURY SPECIAL WITH ALF THIS HAS CAUSED DISRUPTION WE’RE ALL WONDERING, WHEN WILL OUR ECONOMY START MOVING AGAIN? YOU MIGHT BE FINDING YOURSELF ON THE DOLE FOR THE FIRST TIME THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN BENEFIT APPLICATIONS MERA (MANX EARNINGS REPLACEMENT ALLOWANCE) INTRODUCED YESTERDAY – 1143 APPLICATIONS […]
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Wiltshire Farm Foods, Isle of Man 🇮🇲
Wiltshire Farm Foods – a Douglas-based food and essentials delivery service – are on a mission to ensure that the Island’s most vulnerable are catered for, by working with other local businesses to support the Island’s supply chain.
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You like my brows? Gee thanks, just grew ‘em
It’s obvious we are all dealing with lockdown in our own different ways… what has come to light however is just how reckless some people have become when it comes to the hair on their body. And let’s keep this clean, we’re strictly focusing on the neck upwards (…you do you in places unseen).
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I have COVID-19. I am ok. Others won’t be.
Gef writer, Katie Banks, was one of the 5 who tested positive for Covid – 19 today.
Here she gives us the ins and outs on symptoms and the importance of sticking to the rules.
Although it’s a scary topic, this is a bloody brilliant read. So grab your #howardoclock bev and settle in…
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Dear Diary: I wish I was home on my cherished Isle 🇮🇲
Dear Diary, I miss the Isle of Man…..
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Three Legged Lockdown: Why I Wish I Was on Lockdown in the Isle of Man.
In response to the Coronavirus crisis the Isle of Man has officially – as of the 06:00 Friday 27/03/2020 – closed its borders to all but the essential supply of freight and individuals deemed to be “necessary for critical national infrastructure”.
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HOWARD’S DAILY UPDATE – 31-March
Everything you need to hear from today’s update.
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Staying Connected through Social Distancing
Humans are wired to be social creatures, and that’s how we cope when a big disaster happens…
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HOWARD’S DAILY UPDATE – 30-March
It’s that time again. Hear all the daily updates from Howard.
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An Update from Alf
BY STAYING HOME NOW YOU ARE PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY