In our first street interviews since the easing of restrictions, we asked people how they found Lockdown 2 compared with the first time around.

Brian Rothwell, aged 83, from Port Erin, said that this circuit breaker lockdown was ’slightly better, because we’d already had a bit of a dose of it before, we had an idea of what was coming’.

Hiw wife Maureen, 72, said to keep their minds occupied they did a lot of crosswords, and watched TV following exercise classes which were being shown.

’It was boredom more than anything, with everywhere closed, and no one out on the streets - you just get sick of looking at the TV or the computer all the time.’

’Like a caged animal’, Maureen added.

One of the biggest challenges for them was being unable to see their daughter and grandchildren on the other side of the island, and having to drop off food shopping to their doorstep whilst they were self-isolating.

’We were just able to wave to them through the window’, Maureen said.

Justine Torry, aged 26, Port Erin, told us that she worked throughout the lockdown at the hospital and so her life was not that different.

She explained how it still felt strange now that restrictions had been eased: ’Still it feels like I’m missing something, whether it be a mask, or just when you’re out and about you feel like you still need to keep your distance from people, when you actually don’t’.

She added: ’We’re so lucky that we only had it for three weeks, I’m definitely guilty of taking it for granted and not realising how rough everywhere else has had it for such a long time.’

Norman Brew, aged 57, of Jurby, said the second lockdown was easier because it was ’a shorter duration, and the government and the public had a good idea of what was expected.’

Lisa Hacking, 43, Jurby, added: ’There was a lot of information given as well, regarding how many positive tests were coming back, and we were kept up to date on whether (the government) felt the lockdown was going to end when they said it was.’

With both Norman and Lisa being frontline health workers, Lisa said that it was not as strange for them to adjust to things like mask-wearing, because the health service had kept precautions such as PPE in place throughout the pandemic.

Norman said that now restrictions had been eased he was most glad that he would be able to go and see his granddaughter, due to be born in about a week’s time.

’Because my daughter was worrying about simple things, like having her birthing partner - it wouldn’t have been allowed, it was all up in the air - so she’s delighted now the lockdown has ended, it was good timing for her’.

Ziv Chen, 50, Douglas, said it was a bit more difficult, particularly because of the winter weather, and that having already experienced a lockdown before. There was no novelty of it being anything new. Having worked from home and having his family there throughout the whole time, he said didn’t find it too boring, however.

Ziv said that what he missed was ’just being out and about like we are now [on Strand Street], and meeting other people .’