The Council of Ministers was meeting this afternoon (Sunday) to discuss the latest developments in the Covid-19 alert in the island.
It came as Chief Minister Howard Quayle told a briefing today: ’I want to reassure you that this briefing is not building up to bad news.
’On Saturday and Sunday we received 398 test results, many of these were from people who had come forward as a result of our announcement on New Year's Eve.
’I am pleased to advise you that all 398 test results have come back as negative.
’As of last night (Saturday) all swabs have been processed and test results reported.
’There will be of course more swabbing today (Sunday) and tomorrow. (Monday)
’These results do not mean that we can say there has been no community transmission but I am sure you will agree the results in such a significant number are an encouraging sign.’
According to the most recent government statistics released yesterday (Saturday) some 1,463 people were awaiting tests.
The alert came on New Year’s Eve after the government announced that two people had tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Quayle said what made these positive results unusual was they came after the two individuals had completed a 14-day period of isolation after they had travelled to the island.
He said: ’The news has caused some concern in our community which is completely understandable.
He said it was ’encouraging and reassuring’ to see that the community ’remains vigilant and is engaged in our efforts to keep the island covid-free’.
He added the two individuals who tested positive ’followed all the rules and did all that has been asked of them’.
He explained that ’both individuals are self isolating again because of their positive test results’.
The Chief Minister and health minister David Ashford defended the amount of time it took government to let people know the two people had tested positive for coronavirus, after completing their 14-days self-isolation.
The two people visited a number of locations before finding out they had the virus.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister said there were no plans at this stage to toughen the border restrictions further to move to level five.
He told Isle of Man Newspapers: ’It is a concern for all of us, the Council of Ministers is meeting this afternoon (Sunday) to take on further additional information.
’It is worth noting that we have already made significant changes to our borders policy before this happened.
’We really have tightened up from where we had been.
’Obviously it is never say never and if the evidence from our medics and director of public health changes then of course we will make the changes.’
He said that they still have to allow for patients who need to go away to travel for specialist treatment.
More details of the Covid-19 alert in the Isle of Man Examiner on Tuesday morning.