Border restrictions have been tightened as government warned it was ’inevitable’ that the mutant strain of Covid-19 will arrive on Manx shores.

New exemptions certificates were suspended, including those issued on compassionate grounds but excluding categories of key workers, from midnight last night.

Day one and day 13 testing have also been introduced for returning residents at the cost of £50.

The announcements were made yesterday (December 22) at the government’s coronavirus press conference.

Director of public health Dr Henrietta Ewart said: ’We have identified a number of areas where we can tighten controls to provide our community with added protection.

’For people who are not already in possession of an exemption certificate or direction notice, a number of measures will come into force for people arriving on the island.’

All categories of exemption, granting permission for non-residents to travel to the island, are suspended except for future applications in the following three categories:

The maintenance of critical national infrastructure

The provision of health and social care

Circumstances where an exemption is in the public interest.

Those who have already been issued with an exemption certificate will be permitted to travel to the island - these certificates are not being revoked and existing conditions apply.

No new exemptions, except in the three categories outlined, will now be permitted from this point onwards.

Dr Ewart continued: ’To be clear, this includes exemption certificates issued on compassionate grounds.

’With immediate effect, we are temporarily suspending new applications for travel to the island for compassionate grounds.

’Those already in the system but not yet reviewed will be processed and those already granted will be honoured.’

While strict protocols are already in place to prevent the spread of the virus from visiting key workers - such as social distancing, face masks, self-isolation outside of working times - from December 23, all of those arriving on an exemption will be required to have a test for Covid-19 following their arrival on the island.

Also from that date, all those arriving in possession of an exemption certificate will no longer be permitted to undertake exercise outside.

Fourthly, any amendments people have been granted to their self-isolation requirements are revoked and disallowed with effect from tomorrow.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle said: ’The Council of Ministers has decided to introduce a new testing regime, with a test following arrival and a second test on day 13 of self-isolation.

’If the day 13 test is negative, residents will be able to leave self-isolation on day 14.’

’If the test is positive, the period of isolation will be extended by a further 14 days.

’Those who do not wish to undergo testing will be required to self-isolate for 21 days.’

The cost of both tests combined will be £50 and can be booked by calling the Covid-111 service.

Mr Quayle said that the return to full border closure had been ruled out for now and the island remains at level 4, which allows residents to return so long as they self-isolate.

He continued: ’These new measures apply to those arriving on the island from tomorrow onwards.

’If you are already here and already self-isolating, the rules do not change. If you are already in possession of an exemption certificate or direction notice, the rules do not change.

’Many of our residents have now returned home and it’s clear that over the next two weeks the anticipated travel volumes are likely to be less than they have been. I also expect many people who had planned to travel to review this in light of the changing situation.’

The Chief Minister concluded that he hoped that these changes will be short term with a view to reverting back to the island’s previous position as swiftly as possible.

He said: ’Our borders remain our principal line of defence. The Council of Ministers was determined not to have a kneejerk reaction to the latest developments, but we are keenly aware of the responsibility we have to respond to new and emerging threats.’

The Council of Ministers will review the situation in two weeks’ time.

Towards the end of the briefing, the Chief Minister said on the delayed roll-out of the vaccination programme: ’Our intention is to start the vaccination programme in earnest on Monday, January 4. I have said before that this is not a race. This is too important to rush. We have a responsibility to get it right.’

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford added that it was sensible to roll out the vaccine from January 4 rather than during the Christmas period.