The island’s rules on social distancing will not be relaxed before April 23, at the earliest.

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford confirmed the position during this afternoon’s Tynwald sitting.

Mr Ashford said he is ’proud of the response’ of Manx residents in the face of Covid-19.

He added: ’I do not want to dampen anyone’s spirit but I also don’t wish to weaken that resolve.’

While the government may see ’some scope’ to make changes to the rules ’in the medium term’, Mr Ashford said ’we are not there yet’.

He also confirmed that there will be no changes to the rules until at least April 23 and that the border will remain closed ’for at least another month’.

Residents are due to arrive back on the island tomorrow from Heysham. However, the 30 residents allowed back at this time, will be required to enter quarantine, at their expense, at the Comis Hotel, Mount Murray.