Islanders must 'get used to life with the virus' as travel numbers ramp up

That's from the Health Minister who said it was inevitable that COVID-19 would reappear on the island.

There are currently 20 active cases on the island (seven new cases in the last 24 hours) with no one in hospital.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, David Ashford said that the vaccination programme was the only way out of the pandemic.

About 90% of the adult population on the Isle of Man is now vaccinated against COVID-19, with 60% having received their second dose.

Ferry sailings between Liverpool and the Isle of Man are now running again after border restrictions were eased on 28 June.

The airport is also seeing a hike in passenger numbers with flights being operated between the island and Gatwick, Liverpool, Belfast, Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool and Heathrow. 

According to Manx government figures, around 600 people arrived on the Isle of Man last Monday as the border restrictions eased and more than a thousand are expected for the bank holiday weekend.

The border restriction changes mean that people from the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel here without testing or isolation.