The government is undertaking precautionary measures to reduce the risk of a new Covid-19 variant being transmitted in the Isle of Man.

Borders’ officers have identified 21 people who have arrived in the island from South Africa in the past 10 days, and are in the process of contacting them.

The designation of a new Variant under investigation by the UK Health Security Agency has led to six African countries being added to the UK’s travel red list from midday today, with direct flights from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia banned until 4am on Sunday, November 28.

British nationals who have been in those countries within the last 10 days are required to quarantine at home for 10 days and take two PCR tests from noon today until 4am on Sunday, following which all arrivals in the UK will have to undertake mandatory hotel quarantine.

All the individuals are being offered advice by Public Health, and are being asked to make arrangements with Covid 111 for voluntary PCR tests.

They are not required to self-isolate while waiting for their results unless they have symptoms, as they travelled before the measures were introduced.

People who have visited any of the six countries before travelling to the UK from a third country and onward to the island within the past 10 days, is urged to come forward.

They are asked to contact Covid 111 to arrange a PCR test.