The island has received further international media attention for the easing of lockdown restrictions after the circuit breaker, this time in the Canadian press.
An article in the The Globe and Mail, Canada’s most read newspaper, began with the line: ’Imagine a place where facemasks aren’t mandatory, pubs and restaurants are open and people don’t have to stand two metres apart.
’Welcome to the Isle of Man.’
It contained comments from a range of local figures, from the Rover’s Return landlord Guy Armstrong-Rossitier, to Chief Minister Howard Quayle - who talked about the joy of having his hair cut, in addition to matters like the government’s rationale behind the circuit breaker lockdown.
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The newspaper described the island as ’vigilant’ about cracking down on outbreaks, and said that the ’quick action paid off’ during the circuit breaker.
The piece does however note that the island has not been ’spared the ravages of the pandemic’, pointing to the 25 deaths and the economic hit - particularly for the tourism sector and following the cancellation of two TTs.
Further explaining the Manx economy, The Globe and Mail went on to describe the island as being ’well-known as a tax haven’ which in addition to the lack of corporate and capital gains tax has helped lure financial services here.
Mr Quayle also outlined to the Canadian press the £100 million of support given to businesses, and the total £200 million cost of the pandemic. The paper concluded that there was ’no guarantee’ there would not be another lockdown.
In addition to extensive coverage in the UK media for the recent return to normality without restrictions, the island has also received attention from other global news outlets - such as those in Australia and Germany.