Three 'residual positive' cases pose no risk to public, says Health Minister

Tue, 09 Jun 2020

There are three ‘residual positive’ cases of coronavirus in the Manx community, but the health minister insists they pose no risk the public.

It is understood the individuals, two of which are key workers, have been asked to self-isolate after displaying what’s known as ‘viral shedding’.

These ‘rare’ cases are patients who have continued to test positive beyond 14 days, but aren’t showing symptoms.

Health Minister David Ashford says these individuals are not infectious and not counted as active.

‘As a virus dies and its cells separate from the body’ he says, it will actually show up as a positive test.’

‘It doesn’t mean the person is infectious, it doesn’t mean the person can transmit the virus, it means the virus is exiting the body.’

For the two key workers who are ‘shedding’, current guidelines mean they have to remain in isolation until two swab tests return as negatives.

Mr Ashford says the current policy of keeping essential workers off work whilst they await results during this time is being ‘reviewed and amended.’

This, he says, is because there is ‘no valid medical reason for anyone in that shedding position not to be able to end isolation and return to work.’