What does government's 'Exit Strategy' currently look like?

Council of Ministers to reveal six-phase plan

Government's 'Exit Strategy' document will be released by the end of this week.

During a Tynwald sitting this week, Chief Minister Howard Quayle outlined a 'six phase plan' - details of which will be released in the document.

So, what do those six phases currently look like?

Phase one: Soft changes implemented 24 April.

Phase one came into force last Friday, 24 April, when the first easing of restrictions took place to allow:

Construction & trade sectors to return to work, whilst maintaining social distancing, and around 4,500 workers were affected by these measures.

Daily exercise limits were lifted, allowing residents to go outdoors for an unlimited period of time.

Bans on public gatherings with people outside of your own household remain in place.

The chief minister says a review of phase one will take place on 8 May.

Phase two: Restoring non-essential retail shops and services.

Mr Quayle described phase two as 'restoring the non-essential retail shops and services, where it is safe to do so'.

This would include most high street shops, which may still need to enforce social distancing measures.

Phase three: First part of hospitality industry to reopen.

The chief minister says 'phase three is about getting the first part of the hospitality industries, restaurants and cafes, back open where we can.'

Phase four: Lifestyle and tourism industries.

This will allow for B&Bs, hotels, and campsites to reopen, for on-Island residents to use for 'staycation' purposes.

Phase five: Second part of hospitality industry to reopen.

This means bars, pubs, and nightclubs, places which would typically see mass social gatherings, will be allowed to reopen.

Speaking last week, Guy Armstrong-Rossiter, Chairman of Licensed Victuallers Association, said he feared pubs may remain closed until December, and that some businesses may take up to two or three years to recover:

Phase six: Reopening the borders.

The final phase of government's plan is to reopen the Island's borders, which closed to visitors and residents following the Island's first case of human-to-human transmission of the virus on 23 March.

Exceptions remain, allowing 'essential' key workers to enter the Island, and returning residents who wish to be repatriated - a measure which includes a mandatory two-week stay in quarantine at the Comis Hotel, Mount Murray.

Government says entry into this phase will be judged against the ongoing coronavirus situation in the UK, and whether the reopening of the border presents significant risk of a second wave of the virus.

Outstanding Questions:

When will schools reopen?

Schools closed to all but the children of key workers on 23 March, the same day borders closed.

During this lunchtime's Mannin Line on Manx Radio, one caller, Ken, asked the Chief Minister 'where does the reopening of schools fit into the six stages?'

Mr Quayle says the reopening of schools isn't included in the six stages because it will be done in small steps, possibly year group by year group, and once an agreement is reached among medics and teaching representatives:

When will social distancing be relaxed to allow family members to reunite?

So far in government's plan, this moment hasn't been earmarked, leaving a grey area between the phases, and how those affected will continue with these measures.

On Manx Radio's Mannin Line, the Chief Minister was asked by Steven, and his niece Louise, whether people could create a social 'bubble', including a limited number of close friends and family who are allowed to interact:

Do you have any questions about government's six-phase plan? Send them to newsroom@manxradio.com.