There has been another Covid-19 related death, bringing the total number in the island to 82 since the start of the pandemic.

According to the latest government Covid surveillance report, the current seven-day average for reported positive results is 265 – up from 190 last week – and the current trend of reported positive results is rising.

Although numbers of new cases have varied day on day over the past few days, overall there has been a levelling off in numbers.

However, cases continue to be seen across all age groups. This is reflected in another slight fall in the effective reproduction number (Rt) which was 1.80 this week, indicating a further slight slowing in the rate of increase in transmission, as this is down from 2.00 last week.

The surveillance report emphasised that case ascertainment is dependent on patterns of testing and reporting so it’s likely that there are more cases than are notified at present.

This caveat has applied throughout the pandemic when Covid has been transmitting on island, although the change to lateral flow test self-testing and self-reporting may have impacted on that to ‘an unknown extent’.

It also said that as the majority of Omicron infections are mild, ‘case numbers are now a less important measure than pressure on health and care services’.

It added: ‘As expected, our level and pattern of transmission is very similar to that across the UK.

‘This is likely to result from increased travel, changes in patterns of behaviour and mixing following reduction of restrictions here and elsewhere and the increased transmissibility of the BA.2 variant of omicron which is now widespread here and across the British Isles.

‘How long this persists will depend on levels of immunity, patterns of mixing in our communities and travel, all of which have an impact on transmission.’

This comes as the Council of Ministers is set to meet to decide on giving the final go ahead to lifting all Covid legal restrictions at the end of this month.

March 31 is due to be the date on which the Isle of Man moves to treat Covid as an ‘endemic’ – defined as there being low or moderate levels of the disease.

It still remains the case that face coverings are mandatory in healthcare settings, with elective surgeries being reviewed daily.

The figures show that there are now 1,981 active cases in the island as of yesterday’s (Thursday) figures – a fall from 2,028 on Wednesday.

The total number of new cases that have been reported in the last 24 hours is 307.

A snapshot of the Noble’s Hospital numbers shows there are 10 patients currently admitted with a Covid positive status.

That’s up from eight on Wednesday.

No one is currently in the intensive care unit or has had to undergo treatment there for some weeks.