The latest Public Health Surveillance Report released yesterday shows that two more people have died of Covid-19 related illness in the island.

The deaths occurred on September 9 and 23.

This means that the total number of coronavirus related deaths on the island since the start of the pandemic has reached 54.

That is double the number recorded in New Zealand to date, where there have been 27 deaths.

Given the fact our population is around 85,000 people, compared to theirs, which is around five million, the difference is stark.

The public health surveillance reports released by the government are summaries of indicators which are used to understand the status of the current wave of Covid-19 on the Isle of Man.

They are published each Thursday for data up to and including the previous Sunday, but some deaths from earlier time periods are only confirmed later on.

The latest report also confirms that:

l The current seven-day daily average for confirmed positive cases is around 45.

l The current overall trend of confirmed cases is remaining level.

l Most recent seven-day daily average test positivity rate is 19.6%.

l The percentage of PCR tests from the lateral flow pathway is remaining level, with the percentage of UK arrival tests decreasing over the last two weeks, due to the reduction in border testing of returning residents.

l 88% of positive PCR tests are from the LFD pathway.

l Over the last seven days most confirmed positive cases have been in the 10 to 14 age group, all of these cases are unvaccinated.

l Daily and weekly deaths continue to show a level trend overall.

l Of the three cases in hospital when the report was released, two (66.7%) were fully vaccinated, whilst one was unvaccinated.

The daily snapshot released yesterday - which contains different data from the two-week report - showed that the number of people in hospital had fallen to two.

Elsewhere, island-wide vaccination clinics will begin this weekend for young people aged 12 to 15 to get their single-dose of the vaccine.

The clinics will be open for this age group to receive the Pfizer vaccine on:

l Saturday, October 9, from 9.30am to midday at the Chester Street Hub.

l Saturday, October 9, from 2pm to 4.30pm at QEII High School in Peel.

l Sunday, October 10, from 9.30am to midday at Castle Rushen High School.

l Sunday, October 10, from 2pm to 4.30pm at Ramsey District Cottage Hospital.

Individuals wanting to attend these clinics must have registered with 111 in advance.

Booking is essential as staff must know how many vaccines to have on site to ensure there is no wastage.