Repatriated residents may be allowed to self-isolate rather than go into enforced quarantine in future, the Chief Minister told Tynwald’s Public Accounts Committee today.

There has been criticism that Manx residents stranded overseas have been obliged on their return to the island to go into quarantine for 14 days in secure accommodation at the Comis Hotel.

Howard Quayle told the PAC: ‘The repatriation scheme is not perfect – we were clear from the start it would not be for many reasons.’

He added: ‘We are in a different place to when we first closed our borders. We know where we are on the curve and we have increased our hospital’s capacity to respond.

‘We have experience from three repatriation sailings so far. Last Friday we let certain people go back to work if they could do safely.’Our clinicians have indicated that they would be willing to support a move to self-isolation for repatriated residents under certain criteria.‘Council of Ministers have considered this and is willing to support such a move.'Any such changes to our Covid response are only possible if the number of cases remains small and manageable.’Mr Quayle said he hoped to announced further details next week.Health Minister David Ashford said the policy was still being developed.* Full coverage of the PAC sitting in next week's Examiner