Call for apology for 'cruel' Covid quarantine

Manx residents who were abroad when the border closed were forced to quarantine

The Manx government should issue a formal apology to residents "caught out" by the border closure in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, an MHK has said.

Those who returned to the island at the beginning of the pandemic were subject to a mandatory 14-day stay at the Comis Hotel in Santon, at a cost of up to £1,000 each.

Speaking during a debate on the Council of Ministers' initial response to an independent review's findings of its handling of the pandemic, Michelle Haywood said it was "abundantly clear their treatment was cruel".

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan told Tynwald while he was sorry for the "extremely traumatic" experiences of some across the board during the pandemic, the island should be proud of how it managed the situation.

Kate Brunner KC's report made 31 recommendations, including a refund of charges imposed on Manx residents returning from abroad, which ministers have accepted in principle.

Dr Haywood said that, as well as getting their money back, the "distress of those stranded away from home" should be recognised in a formal apology.

David Ashford MHK, who was health minister during the pandemic, said in the event of a future pandemic residents should never be "locked out of their homeland again" and any planning should include a "very clear" repatriation strategy.

As well as refunds, Tim Glover MHK suggested compensation might be considered for those affected by the quarantine rules.

'Considerable work'

Mr Glover also called for apologies from the government to the staff and family of residents of the Abbotswood Nursing Home, where 20 residents died with Covid.

Mr Brunner's review found the outbreak "in all likelihood, occurred with no fault on the part of the home", and there had been a "lack of attention paid to care homes in government planning".

The efforts of frontline staff were also praised during the two-hour debate, with Dr Haywood highlighting the work of government scientist Rachel Glover, who she said was "pivotal" in setting up PCR testing on the island.

Mr Cannan, who was treasury minister during the pandemic, said he had "no hesitation" in saying "how sorry I am there were experiences which have been extremely traumatic and with hindsight may have been approached in a different way".

He said "considerable work" was already underway to implement some of the suggestions but a more detailed assessment would be needed before they could be "fully accepted" in another government response set to published in July.

"Overall I think we should remain incredibly proud of the way the island managed it's way through pandemic," he added.