Covid-19 ward at hospital to reopen

Due to current level of community spread

The Covid-19 ward at Noble’s Hospital is being reopened with Manx Care admitting the facility is 'under pressure'.

It's due to the current level of community spread of the virus on the Isle of Man.

Staff absences – due to Covid, self-isolation or sickness – have increased which is affecting the normal running of the hospital.

Manx Care is now pleading with all non-ward based clinically registered staff to work extra shifts.

The health body says it hopes to maintain all outpatient clinics and elective programmes but confirmed it's cancelling all non-essential staff training.

Chief executive Teresa Cope said: "We are currently at Opel 3 so have issued a request to all clinically registered staff to work extra shifts. 

“We hope this is a temporary measure but will be reviewing the situation regularly and updating the public with any changes.

"Living with Covid means just that figures will fluctuate but we need to protect our patients and staff while ensuring essential services continue to run."

Mask wearing across Manx Care settings is now mandatory. 

There are currently 1070 active cases of Covid-19 recorded on the Isle of Man.