There are about 70 applications a week for key workers to visit the island.

Earlier this month, the government confirmed that a total of 1,229 key worker exemptions had been issued since border restrictions were introduced in March.

But a Freedom of Information request has revealed that the number has since risen to 1,390.

The average length of stay is 23 days.

But the FoI response from the Cabinet Office said this number is inflated by the inclusion of workers for the Department of Health and Social Care who stay for extended periods of time.

There have been 618 applications approved for essential workers to stay on-island for more than seven days.

This month, five welders from Yorkshire - including one who later tested positive for Covid-19 - were jailed for breaching strict coronavirus rules for visiting key workers.

The group called in at Tesco to buy food and alcohol shortly after arriving off the Ben-my-Chree, rather than going straight to their hotel.

They were here to complete a track renewal contract on the Manx Electric Railway.

The government insists a ’rigorous’ process is in place to approve key worker exemptions but the chief secretary is now leading a review of the rules.