Isle of Man runs its own marathon

After an initial outbreak just after New Year of seven cases and a threat of community seeding, the Manx authorities acted swiftly and clamped down hard, much like Guernsey did at the weekend.

There are now 30 known active infections but, crucially, there have been no new unexplained cases for two weeks.

With seeding controlled, it is just a question of time before active cases dwindle.

The imminent relaxation of the Isle of Man lockdown shows that, even in this worrying era of new more transmissible variants, it is still possible for small island communities to get on top of the virus with good community and public health control.

Even Jersey, which at one point in mid-December was seeing more than a 100 new infections a day, is back in single figures.

Its current total of 140 active cases is well down on the turn of the year when the virus was getting a strong grip and totals of more than 1,000 infections were seen.

All of which shows once again that the pandemic is a marathon not a sprint. It is not about a snapshot of one day or even one week or month, but the sum total of costs in lives damaged and lost and the economic damage done over two, three, or even more years.

By this Bailiwick’s standards, Guernsey is at a high point. After months of feeling in control, if the virus was never eradicated, it is disorientating to see the daily figures rising so fast.

However, that should not induce panic. The testing regime is fully engaged and effective and there is every hope that, like the Isle of Man, these islands will get back on top within a few weeks.

For the moment, we can draw from the deep well of trust that the past record of Public Health and the Civil Contingencies Authority has deservedly built up.

With public patience, Public Health can track down the clusters and, with the borders still tight, force those numbers quickly down.