No support packages are in place at the moment for those travelling back to the Isle of Man, says Health Minister.

At the press briefing on Tuesday (April 7), Health Minister David Ashford confirmed that no scheme to help the 190-plus people returning to the island with travel and accommodation has been formed.

However, the Isle of Man Government is looking at that, he said.

From April 15 Manx residents - who have been stuck on the other side of the border due to the March 27 full border closure - will be able to travel back to the island on designated sailings on board the Ben-my-Chree from Heysham.

This would be by application only with slots being allocated. The process is estimated to take five to eight weeks.

Once repatriated citizens arrive to the island they will go into quarantine for 14 days.

Mr Ashford told the press that the residents who will be in the ’most difficulty’ will be those outside the UK as they are spread all over the world and have to get back to the UK in the first place.

’With the best will in the world, with lockdowns, I’m relying on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to maybe run repatriation flights from certain countries,’ he said.

’At the moment, being blunt, there are no support packages in place.

’That is something we are looking at and we will look at as part of the repatriation scheme to see what support, if any, we can put in place for people and that will be announced as part of the measures when they come forward over the next week.

’But one of the key things I need to emphasise is that those already in the UK will be the first tranche to come back to the island because they are literally in the UK and not scattered further afield.’

Manx residents stranded in the UK or overseas have been signposted to email their exact circumstances to

Mr Ashford was also asked about the disposal of personal protection equipment at Noble’s Hospital. He said it had to be done in a clinically safe way in the same way as clinical contaminants such as needles.

’There are set procedures in place about how gowns should be placed in clinical waste bins and set procedures about how gowns are put on and removed to minimise contact.

He added: ’I’ve heard no reports at all that is not being followed.’