A senior police officer says ’we cannot let our guard down’ as the island’s exemption policy for returning residents has come under scrutiny this week.

Superintendent Steve Maddocks’ comments come as the Isle of Man edges towards the milestone of 100 days without a new case of coronavirus.

A number of those in isolation have reportedly gone the full 14 days without a visit or phone call from authorised officers, prompting concern from the public.

Those arriving on the island undergo checks by the Travel Notification Service, which has received about 600 exemptions, according to the government, since border regulations changed last month.

The service, based in the cabinet office, is tasked with monitoring individuals and ensuring they adhere to the terms of their self-isolation notices.

The police only become involved in the process when someone suspected to be in breach of quarantine is reported to them.

’There’s still members of the public who are cautious and wary about the virus returning,’ Supt Maddocks said.

’They are rightly concerned about it and they will report their suspicions to us.’

Two individuals have been sentenced to prison for failing to isolate in the last week, a 55-year-old local man who visited two Douglas pubs over the weekend, and a 60-year-old woman visitor who admitted taking a bus to a locksmith.

Supt Maddocks said that the force had reinforced its message to staff to take precautions such as washing hands.

’I think there is a little bit of complacency,’ he said. ’When you look around the world and at the news it’s rife in some areas and we’re really lucky here in experiencing the life we are now.

’I know there are restrictions about travel and people haven’t been able to go and see family but on the whole we haven’t got it too bad.’

Asked about people in isolation who haven’t been visited or even had a phone call to check up on them, Supt Maddocks said: ’It’s more of a question to the Cabinet Office and the people doing those checks.

’They have only a finite number of resources and how they manage that is a matter for them.

’We will work with them as we have since the crisis started and do everything we can to support them.’

If a returning resident brings the virus back, what would happen?

’The contact tracing team will come to the fore then. The main thing will be trying to isolate the spread of the virus.’

He said that if there were another outbreak, lessons would be learned.

’If there are things we could have been better at, things will change.’