Government officials say there will be no change to the format of the twice-weekly Covid press briefings.

The assurance came after Chief Minister Howard Quayle told Tynwald there were plans for a shake-up.

He told members: ’I have had complaints from members of the public about the number of questions and the type of questions at the end of the press conference and I know a number of people are switching off as a result.’

He said the format of public question and answer sessions had been trialled.

Mr Quayle said: ’That’s something we’re looking to do this week and going forward to try to shake things up, to improve the questioning for the public so we can get as much information out to them as possible.’

Peter Boxer, executive director of external relations for the Manx government, told the Courier that the format at the regular Monday and Thursday press briefings, featuring questions from the media, would not be changing at all.

He said: ’We see the need and transparency of having journalists free to ask questions without any interference from us.’

Mr Boxer said the question and answer sessions served a purpose and were a ’nice addition’ but would not replace the format of the regular briefings.

Monday and Thursday briefings would continue, he said, with ad hoc ones laid on as needed, but would now be interspersed at least once a week with a question and answer session.

At their very height last year, the government Covid briefings were watched live by an audience of at least 15,000.

Mr Boxer said it was the case that about one third of people turn off when it comes to the questions from the media.

But he added: ’We do know it’s important. It’s all about transparency.’