Coronavirus: Manx residents charged £1,000 in quarantine

Passengers practised social distancing while travelling on the Manannan

Manx residents will have to pay up to £1,000 to spend two weeks in enforced quarantine following their repatriation.

The first 30 of 400 people who were off-island when the borders closed arrived back by ferry on Wednesday.

Daphne Caine MHK has called for the government's policy on charging residents to be reviewed.

Health Minister David Ashford said it was "right" that each person returning contributes to the cost.

The government announced on 6 April that anyone arriving back on the island must spend 14 days in isolation before being allowed home.

The fee - capped at £1,000 -covers ferry travel, accommodation and meals at a specially-repurposed hotel on the island.

"In relation to charging of residents for quarantine, I think it is right that people contribute towards that," said Mr Ashford.

But Ms Caine said: "If the government is forcing them to have a two-week period in a hotel, shouldn't the government pick up the tab for that?"

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During the 14 days, people will be required to follow strict self-isolation procedures but will be able to exercise under supervision. No visitors will be allowed.

One of the passengers on the first repatriation sailing will be Alan Bell, who was stranded in Goa in India when the border was closed.

He said that, while he was happy to be returning, he was "less than happy" to be prevented from spending his period of quarantine at home.

The remaining residents who have asked to return will be brought back in a "safe and managed way", said the government.

Only those showing no symptoms of Covid-19 will be allowed back on the island and temperature checks will take place at the port.