The government’s bid to ease border restrictions has succeeded after an 11th-hour debate in Tynwald.

New rules that came into force at 1am on Saturday open up travel from countries on England’s green and amber lists.

This means countries on the green list will now be treated the same as England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Jersey and Guernsey, with no isolation or Covid-19 tests required of fully vaccinated visitors.

Children aged 11 and under are exempted from testing and isolation, and exit tests have been removed from those in isolation because of the virus. Additional vaccines that have received regulatory approval are now recognised.

The move to ease restrictions was thrown out by Tynwald last Thursday, when members vetoed suspending standing orders to allow a debate to go ahead, an action described as regrettable by Chief Minister Howard Quayle. The proposed changes to border controls were back on the agenda on Friday afternoon, replacing the remaining items of business on the order paper. This time, they were voted through.

Members of the House of Keys who voted against the easing of border restrictions were Jason Moorhouse, Claire Christian, Ann Corlett, Julie Edge and Laurie Hooper. The proposal carried unanimously in the Legislative Council.