The Chief Minister says he is reassured by latest Covid test results - but says he won’t rule out extending the lockdown if necessary.

There have ben two new positive Covid test results in the last 24 hours - but neither are related to the identified clusters.

Public health director Dr Henrietta Ewart said both were detected in day one testing for returning travellers already in self-isolation.

It brings the total number of active cases to 18, with all self-isolating at home.

She said 206 test results had been reported in the last 24 hours and she was hopeful that testing of contacts from the Truth wine and tapas bar in Ramsey, deemed a high risk venue, would be completed over the weekend.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said it was ’another reassuring day but there was still some way to go’.

But he didn’t rule out extending the lockdown if necessary.

He said: ’Our concern is whether there are any community cases as a result of this second cluster. We have had none in the last couple of days. If that continues then clearly we will be looking at opening up as soon as we possibly can.

’But if it continues then we may have to extend that period. But let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. I’m very hopeful that with everyone following the rules we will flush out an infection in the community.’

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said the cost of providing government financial support during the 21-day circuit breaker lockdown would cost £8m to £10m.

In the previous lockdown Salary Support paid out more than £43m and supported 11,000 individuals a month at its peak.

MERA helped over 1,940 people when it was needed most and to date has paid out £6m.

The Salary Support Scheme is being re-opened to all business sectors that were able to claim during last year’s period of lockdown.

It is currently scheduled to be available to cover the current circuit break lockdown, from January 4 to 31.

The method of claiming remains the same, along with the amount of support, which provides financial assistance to any qualifying business of up to £280 for a full-time equivalent employee per week.

Applications can be submitted from 1st February but must be made no later than 30 days after the end of the month in which salary payments were made.

Applications are made online and details of how to apply are available on the government’s Covid 19 website.

The Manx Earnings Replacement Allowance – MERA – will be payable from Monday January 11, for an initial three-week period ending on Sunday January 31.

MERA will again be available to both employed earners who are made redundant, laid off or put on nil pay by their employer, and those who are self-employed but are prevented from carrying out their work due to the restrictions and who meet the qualifying conditions.

MERA will be paid at a standard rate of £200 a week and individuals can earn up to £50 a week while continuing to receive MERA.

Unemployed and self-employed people who are not eligible for MERA may be eligible for jobseeker’s allowance instead.

Claims are now able to be made online at services.gov.im/mera and anyone who is unable to make their claim online should contact us by phone or email.

The phone line for both MERA and Salary Support enquiries is 648125.