Chief Minister Howard Quayle revealed the plan to use lateral flow testing for secondary school children in Tynwald as he outlined protection measures that would be introduced to increase safety for when the island’s borders fully re-open.

’Regular screening in secondary schools, through LFDs, done at home, is currently being planned with an expected start date of June 21, subject to supply arriving on island,’ Mr Quayle said, in response to a Tynwald question about mitigation measures.

’The issue of vaccination of children - aged one to 15 - is contentious due to the delicate balance of risk and benefit given that the risks to young people from Covid-19 are extremely low, notwithstanding the known unknowns among Covid.

’One of the main reasons for vaccinating this age group would be to increase protection for adults.’

Government later issued further details of the pilot scheme, which will run throughout the summer term.

Up to two lateral flow testing kits per week will be offered to secondary pupils and staff who are not experiencing symptoms. Testing can be carried out at home by swabbing the nose and throat.

Results should take 15 to 30 minutes and anyone who receives a positive test will be asked to isolate -and further PCR testing will be arranged for them and their family.

Testing is voluntary and children who don’t take part will still be able to attend school. Letters are due to be sent to parents, with more detail.

Mr Quayle first revealed the plan in response to a question from Claire Christian (Douglas South) who asked for details about protection for key workers, children who have not been vaccinated and those cannot or choose not to be vaccinated.

He told Tynwald that as part of the mitigation/living with Covid phase of the government’s strategy, ’we have to accept that Covid-19 is going to be an endemic disease affecting our community for the foreseeable future’.

He added: ’We will see cases, clusters and outbreaks on the Isle of Man and we will not be able to protect the population from risk of infection.’

Vaccination provided the greatest mitigation, he said, but he accepted not everyone would be able or willing to be vaccinated.

In the short-term, he said, the island’s border mitigations remained important ’until more of our population are as fully protected as they can be’.

The long-term strategy would be to react to outbreaks and clusters to contain the spread as much as possible.

’Ongoing surveillance testing, for example LFDs for asymptomatic unvaccinated individuals and waste water testing will likely be needed long term.’

When community circulation of Covid-19 was low, he said, there was ’no need for specific mitigations for key workers, children and those who have not been vaccinated’.

Individuals should take responsibility for themselves and consider their own risk if not vaccinated or if they had underlying conditions. He reiterated the hands/face/space mantra and the importance of fresh air.

’In the event of an outbreak, contact tracing, surge testing, surge vaccination if appropriate and self-isolation will be used for containment,’ he said.

’A return to high levels, should this occur, of circulating virus would need consideration of stronger guidance for all of us on the reintroduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions.’

On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the widely expected delay to his plans to remove all social restrictions, originally earmarked for next Monday but now put back to July 19. It follows an upturn in cases and concerns about the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19.