Coronavirus Guidance

Latest COVID-19 Guidance

We encourage all tourism businesses to keep up to date with all the latest COVID-19 information and guidance from the Isle of Man Government here.

Business Guidance and Preparation

While there are no legal restrictions in place for businesses anymore, all businesses are asked to support their staff and customers in taking steps to minimise the spread of COVID-19 at any time and to consider what measures they can implement to mitigate risk.

Further information can be found here.

Business Contingency Planning

Although the removal of all restrictions has been mandated by the Isle of Man Government, all businesses, where possible, are encouraged to still consider business contingency planning in the event of another outbreak.

Recommended steps to planning for any future impact on your business can be found here. 

Hotel and Guest Accommodation

From 31^st March 2022, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is no longer required to identify their close contacts to Public Health. Instead, individuals (residents and visitors) will be advised to notify their own close contacts so they can be vigilant for symptoms and take an LFD test if they become symptomatic. It will be at the guest’s discretion to inform the accommodation provider if they have tested positive.

What this means is that we now look to live with COVID-19, accepting that the virus is present in our community for the long term, that it is monitored to ensure we understand how it is affecting the Island, but we do not look to identify each and every case. Ultimately, COVID-19 is to be treated in the same way as other communicable diseases (i.e a disease which is transmitted between people, for example norovirus).

The best way to ensure you are protecting your staff and guests is by carrying out a risk assessment which considers and evaluates the health and safety risks, as well as identifying the steps that your business will need to take to mitigate these risks. A risk assessment does not need to be onerous but should be updated regularly, and communicated clearly to both internal and external stakeholders.

Find out how to do a risk assessment.

Positive cases

If a guest tests positive for COVID-19 during their stay at your accommodation, they will be advised to notify their own close contacts so that they can look out for any symptoms and take an LFD test if they become symptomatic.

From 31^st March 2022, any visitor who tests positive for COVID-19 is no longer legally required to self-isolate. Instead, they are encouraged to follow the guidance for positive cases, staying within their accommodation/room and keeping their distance where possible from other people whilst they are symptomatic. If a visitor is still symptomatic but well enough to travel on the date of their departure, they may do so but are strongly advised to wear a face covering and consider hands, face, space, and fresh air to help prevent any spread of the virus. Visitors should also check with their travel providers on any specific COVID-19 policies they may have in place before travelling.

Travel insurance

Visitors should be encouraged to have adequate travel insurance in place before booking their holiday to the Isle of Man.

If a visitor is no longer able to travel to the Island due to COVID-19, it is the responsibility of the business to communicate with the visitor and manage this booking. Please refer to your terms and conditions in the first instance.

Cleaning

Keeping your accommodation clean will help to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Surfaces and objects can be contaminated with COVID-19 when people who are infected touch them or cough or sneeze near them. Think about how you can reduce this risk by cleaning your guest rooms and other communal areas regularly, and paying particular attention to surfaces or objects that people touch frequently.

General cleaning advice and further detailed information can be found here.

Rooms that have been used by guests who you are aware of having COVID-19 should be cleaned carefully and thoroughly. You should also take extra care with laundry from people who may have COVID-19. Guidance on COVID-19 cleaning and decontamination can be found here.

Improving ventilation

In poorly ventilated rooms the amount of virus in the air can build up, increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19, especially if there are lots of infected people in the room. The virus can also remain in the air after an infected person has left.

Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that contains virus particles reduces the chance of spreading COVID-19. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room.

Use your risk assessment to think about:

• How to make sure there is an adequate supply of fresh air in your accommodation and guest rooms. Read about improving ventilation.

• Finding out if there are areas within your accommodation that don’t have enough ventilation, and how you can improve fresh air flow in these areas. Read about poorly ventilated spaces.

Strategic Capacity Scheme

The purpose of the Scheme is to provide financial assistance to Tourist Accommodation businesses. Applications for Round 9 will close on 30th April 2022. Any issues with submitted applications must be resolved by 31st May 2022. Further details can be found here.

Safe, Clean, Legal, COVID-19 Accreditation

Tourism and hospitality have been two of the hardest hit sectors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and we want to help our industry flourish again. To help do this, we have introduced a respected accreditation for businesses to help instil consumer confidence and kick-start tourism. Find out more here.