A group of business leaders is asking the government to spell out the conditions under which border controls will be relaxed.

Think Manx says it is unlikely that Covid-19 will ever be totally eliminated.

’If we continue on an elimination route post vaccination, then it appears almost inevitable we would need strict border controls to incoming persons from almost every other country for many years and possibly for ever - as all the current evidence points to no real prospect of eliminating Covid for many years to come if ever,’ Think Manx, a business leaders’ discussion group, says.

’This would not make the Isle of Man an attractive place to live. The island cannot be a sustainable safe haven without a properly communicated and thought-out long-term strategy.’

In a letter to all members of Tynwald, it suggests a plan to change the border policy.

When everyone above the age of 50 and those others identified as vulnerable have been offered the vaccine, the border should be opened without restriction - or with certain conditions.

Those conditions might be:

Entry to people from as yet unnamed countries

Those with valid negative Covid test within past 48 hours

Subject to a vaccination certificate or other suitable evidence of vaccination

’Sponsored’ non-residents with isolation/testing if not any of the above

The borders issue was mentioned by Chief Minister Howard Quayle at yesterday’s media briefing and his comments addressed many of the concerns of the Think Manx group.

Think Manx’s proprietors are Basil Bielich, a director at chartered accountancy firm Brown Craine; Paul Hotchkiss, a tax advisor who has his own business; lawyers Paul Novellie and Jonathan Wild and gaming consultant Roger Raatgever.

A statement from the group reads: ’There is a pressing need for a clear strategy to be developed around the future plans to combat the pandemic and for this to be open to public scrutiny.

’This is in line with World Health Organisation recommendations for pandemic planning and preparedness and the benefits of setting up a "multisectoral pandemic preparedness planning committee".’

The group describes the current border control plan as sensible. It notes that it is partly dependent on the UK’s infection rate and is under constant review.

But it adds: ’Recently the Chief Minister stated that this strategy is based on a policy of "obliterating" Covid from the island.

’This has been re-emphasised in recent briefings stating that the new policy is elimination and no longer the original policy of containment.

’The question that therefore now arises is how long the island can/should maintain an elimination policy and what will the social, medical and financial cost be.’

It calls for a strategy to include future border control proposals once the vaccine programme has been implemented over the next few months.

’For individuals this will likely define how they will be able to live their lives (including seeing non-resident family members) for the next year or longer,’ it says.

’For businesses, this would enable them, for example, to plan the scope for growth on the island over the next year or beyond and assess how staff could be brought over/recruited during this time.’

The group suggests that once a certain level of vaccination has been reached, the risk of damage to the island shifts.

It says it shifts away from the danger of the vulnerable being infected, towards the danger that non-Covid medical issues are adversely impacted.

’Commerce and life in general will arguably become unsustainable in the long term if extremely tight border control were to continue once general vaccination is available,’ it says.

The threats to business include the inability to bring business people and resources to the island.

In addition, workers cannot be recruited from off the island, especially since families and contacts cannot visit.

The group says: ’We cannot successfully invite skilled people to the island to live and provide business substance if their personal lives are surrounded by border restrictions for an unclear and indefinite period of time.

’At the very least a clear understanding of future policy and strategy needs to be articulated and bought into now - it can be changed if circumstances change significantly, but strategy needs to be known and explained.’

The group also suggests: ’When all persons have been offered the vaccine, the border should be opened without restriction and the daily/weekly reporting of Covid statistics stopped.

’It is then treated as a permanent virus, but with government incentive to educate/encourage all who can to have the vaccine to have it. It appears likely this will be on an annual basis due to mutation - much like other annual vaccinations. That way we are containing with protection.’

At the media briefing yesterday, the Chief Minister described a Tynwald debate about the issue as positive.

He said it was impossible to say when border restrictions would be lifted.

’We all accepted that we cannot keep these border restrictions in place for ever,’ he said. ’It is not good for the people or the economy of our island.

’The key moments in the future will be when we have vaccinated at least all those at most risk of getting sick from the virus, so that they are protected, and then of course when we have offered the vaccine to everyone on our island.

’This means when we know they - and our health service - are safe. On current planning, this first priority group could be by the end of May. This depends on a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control.

’It will depend also on how things are going with our neighbours.’

He added: ’For the moment, we need to continue our policy of local elimination while we vaccinate our most vulnerable. Once that is done, then maybe we can pivot. Mapping out what this might look like and what the triggers might be is under way. When I have more news then of course I will share that with you.’