Community spread of new variant could 'destabilise' Island health services

Public health director urges Manx residents to be vigilant

It would take very little to destabilise the Island's health services if the more transmissible variant of coronavirus was spreading in the community.

That's the warning from the Island's Director of Public Health, who has reiterated the importance of being vigilant during the 21-day circuit break lockdown.

A patient who returned from a medical appointment in the UK has been found to have the new strain, which is up to 70% more infectious.

While government insists this case involved a person who remained in isolation, Dr Henrietta Ewart says community transmission would be challenging: