As of 4pm today (Monday), the government has announced two new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to seven.

Both individuals, from separate households, were already self-isolating having returned to the Island after attending medical appointments in the UK.

The first case was detected through a screening test on admission to Noble’s Hospital for a separate, unrelated condition.

Appropriate safeguards are in place at the hospital to protect care professionals, patients and visitors. If the patient is discharged within their period of self-isolation, they will continue to isolate at home.

The second case was detected through the contact tracing process. This individual is continuing to self-isolate, which has been extended by a further 14 days.

Other members of both households are also self-isolating for 14 days.

Since the start of the pandemic in the spring, 24 Manx residents have lost their lives to Covid-19.

There has been 16,321 tests taken, of which 16,306 have been returned, confirming a total of 355 cases. However, government anti-body tests from earlier this year say this figure is likely to be higher.