It is not yet clear how the UK’s proposed quarantine measures will impact Manx residents seeking to return home from around the world.

While the Manx government acted decisively in closing the border, the UK borders have remained open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, although this may change in the coming weeks.

Responding to an emergency question from Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew), Chief Minister Howard Quayle said that while he and his Channel Islands counterparts are in regular contact with Westminster, it is ’not yet clear’ if this will impact residents of the Crown Dependencies returning home.

Under the proposed UK measures, all people travelling into Great Britain mainland - with the exception of people from the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, the Scottish Islands, the island of Ireland and France - will to need to self-isolate for 14 days.

This leaves Manx residents, stuck in different countries around the world, facing the possibility of at least 28 days quarantine in the UK and in the island because they will have to quarantine in the UK for 14 days and again when they arrive here.

Mr Quayle said: ’I obviously sincerely hope this will not be the case, it may be quite some time before the UK is ready to bring this system into operation and we continue to engage with them as they develop their plans.’

During Wednesday’s press briefing, Mr Quayle confirmed that there was the possibility of the Isle of Man’s border reopening with the island of Ireland before it reopened with Great Britain.

He added: ’Whilst we don’t have the crystal ball to be able to say when we’ll open our borders, if the UK still has a significant number of cases and new spread, then it may not be the UK.

’It may be that the island of Ireland may be the first country that we open our borders to, but obviously we will take advice nearer the time.

’Sadly, I feel that will be quite some time off yet.’

Due to the open border on the island of Ireland, our borders would open to it as a whole.

The UK consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whereas Great Britain only comprises England, Scotland and Wales.