Phased reopening of care homes from today

A number of residential Care Homes across the Island will begin to re-open today.

Temporary closures have been in place in eight homes following a number of COVID-19 cases and increased levels of community transmission.

The following homes will begin their phased re-opening today.

Southlands – Port St Mary

Cummal Mooar – Ramsey

Langness/Gansey – Port St Mary

Thie Meanagh/Sweetbriar – Douglas

Reayrt Skyal – Ramsey 

There will however be some restrictions in place  to ensure a controlled and manageable move to opening fully. 

For the next two weeks the following measures will be in place;

• Visiting will be allowed, but all visits must be pre-arranged with the management team of each home.  
• Appointment bookings will be available from Monday 16th August 2021.
• Visiting will be restricted to one person at any time, and following Infection Prevention and Control clinical advice, will be for 15 minutes.
• All visitors will be asked to carry out a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) at each home prior to the visit, and they will be required to comply with PPE and hand hygiene guidance on arrival and throughout the visit.
• In addition Manx Care is strongly recommending that during this 14 day period residents do not leave the care home for visits with family/friends, with the exception of urgent or emergency medical treatments.
• This guidance will in place until 27 August when it will be reviewed. 
• Reayrt-ny-Baie in Douglas will remain closed until Friday 20 August, at which point the position will be reviewed, due to the continued outbreak of COVID-19 in the home which is impacting both residents and staff.