The Chief Minister has stressed that the new Covid-19 measures which came into force at 4am this morning are preventative.

Speaking in the House of Keys, Alfred Cannan said the island community ’must work together’ to help prevent the spread of the virus.

The Omicron variant has yet to hit our shores.

New rules, including mandatory face masks on public transport and in health and care settings, are now in place following the discovery of the variant.

In the House of Keys this morning Mr Cannan was asked to make a statement regarding the new developments by Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse.

Mr Cannan stated that government wish to avoid the need for legal restrictions, but that the Council of Ministers will continue to ’closely monitor the situation’.

When asked how incoming travelers will adhere to the new rules regarding lateral flow testing, Mr Cannan explained it will be an added electronic declaration as part of the landing form process.