President of Tynwald Steve Rodan has told members it is ’essential’ that the island’s parliament continues to sit.

Due to the need for members to maintain a distance between themselves, some members of Tynwald are sitting in the public gallery, which is closed.

Six Tynwald members are absent for the sitting; these are Marlene Maska MLC, Kerry Sharpe MLC, Claire Barber MHK, Julie Edge MHK, Kate Costain MHK and Chris Thomas MHK.

Mr Rodan has permitted three speeches from ministers, with Chief Minister Howard Quayle speaking first.

The Chief Minister has told members that there is ’no clear end in sight’ for the Covid-19 outbreak, but that the end will come.

He noted that he is the first Chief Minister to utilise the Emergency Powers Act, but added ’this is not something for which I am proud’.

Mr Quayle has warned the public that islanders have 24 hours to change their attitudes or he will be forced to issue further measures which will lead to people being required to remain at home.

Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson has said that before this crisis, he would’ve have referred to teachers as front line emergency service workers, but ’they are now’.

Dr Allinson praised the effort of teachers for providing education for key workers children and for continuing to do their jobs in a ’dark period, like we have never seen before’.

He added: ’The message is clear, stay at home. If your child doesn’t need to be at school, stay at home and if you see your child playing out with friend, bring them home.’

Douglas East MHK Chris Robertshaw has raised concerns with Dr Allinson that by keeping open some schools, they could become petri dish for the virus and allow it to spread further into society.

Dr Allinson said that only 30%-40% of students attended school in the island on Monday, the last day they were open. He also noted that the department would continue to monitor the situation and adapt its plans as needed.

He added that ’at this moment, at this time, this is the best advice’ and warned ’there is no textbook’ for how to deal with a pandemic.

The Chief Minister added that the government has worked with public health officials in making the decision to keep schools open for key workers’ children and it was not one that was ’taken on a whim’.

Dr Allinson, in response to questioning from members, repeated the call for university students to return to the island, but that they must go into isolation.

He added: ’None of us want to think about our children going into quarantine, but that is the reality of the situation.’

We will be updating this page as Tynwald continues to sit.