The first death from Covid-19 has been confirmed in the island .

Chief Minister Howard Quayle and Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney announced the death at Noble’s Hospital on Wednesday night.

We have a report about it on the front page of this week’s Manx Independent.

Also in the news:

Worried independent traders who run shops in Strand Street are facing up to an uncertain future as Douglas Council’s leader said this week that the authority cannot afford to cancel business rates.

Coronavirus is much more widespread than tests results are showing, the Council of Ministers has been warned.

Usually used by those who explore life beneath the seas, snorkels could now be used to save lives in the island.

The Office of Fair Trading is urging residents to be vigilant after a rise in coronavirus-related scams in the UK and on-island.

An investigation has been launched after an inmate at the Isle of Man Prison was found dead in his cell.

A farmer is calling for a system to ensure key workers on their way to an emergency are not held up by police spot checks.

A man was almost three times the drink-drive limit when he crashed his car on the Mountain Road.

Non-Isle of Man workers will be entitled to income-based benefits during the Covid-19 crisis, says the Treasury Minister.

Bus Vannin drivers are being advised by their union to consider going onto new contracts - or risk losing lump sum payments they’ve been offered.

The halt on all construction works as part of government measures to control coronavirus has led to the Promenade project being put on pause too.

On the day when Tynwald was to vote on the continuance of emergency powers, residents stuck outside the border stole the spotlight.

Sulby Stores closed its doors for the final time on Saturday afternoon after serving the public for more than 60 years.

Elderly residents have taken home free care packs created by two Manx mental health professionals to help them during the pandemic.

A historic pub in St John’s has been reborn as a community shop to provide a lifeline for residents.

There have been more than 1,000 applications from businesses in need of emergency funding.

A number of statues, depicting birds, ballerinas and streams of consciousness could be erected in the grounds of the Nunnery to form a sculpture trail.

Changes are being made to maternity care to protect women and babies in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.

Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust has applied to install storage sheds for the village’s heritage railway.

The government’s Passport, Immigration and Nationality office has closed its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic to ’ensure the welfare of customers and staff’.

Despite being hit by the burgeoning crisis over the coronavirus, a charity fundraising effort still managed to raise hundreds of pounds.

Charlotte Darbyshire, founder of the Mind and The Gap mental health blog, shares her tips on reducing stress while in self-quarantine.

Our Island Life section leads on the announcement that Supergrass will be playing at the Villa in August.

Food and Farming looks at the success of the #manxmarch initiative. Julie Blackburn has also spoken to a number of fishermen whose livelihoods have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The sports pages leads with professional cyclist Lizzie Holden, of Tromode, who has been in a strict lockdown scenario in Girona, north-eastern Spain for more than a fortnight.

The Manx Independent also has your letters, What’s On, a page of puzzles, a page of pictures from the past, readers’ photos, a seven-day television guide and lots of community news.

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