Interim results from the government’s antibody testing have shown far more people have likely had Covid-19 than tested positive for it.

It was widely expected that the number of people who have had the virus would exceed the 336 confirmed cases.

Most people who had the virus therefore would have had only minor or no symptoms.

Figures released by the Department of Health and Social Care show that 2691 females and 1201 males had been tested at the time the report was prepared.

The DHSC’s interim report said: ’The estimated prevalence rate implies that the total number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 that have occurred on the Isle of Man is between 1,680 and 2,520 to date (population estimated at 84,000).

’It is acknowledged that these figures, being derived from multiple patient and worker groups, are statistically biased to some extent but it also holds that they will give some insight to the estimated spread of Covid-19 on the Isle of Man.’

A total of 24 residents have died from Covid-19 since the virus was first confirmed to be on the island in March.