PHRs December 21 and January 10th.

Two PHRs covered in this blog.

PHR (Amendment) (no.20) was created on 21 December 2021, and came into effect at 00:01 on 22 December.

The most important substantive change was in relation to persons self-isolating due to a positive test. The default isolation period for Category B persons was changed from 21 days to 10 days (amended reg.5).

The PHR were amended to allow a person who had registered a positive test to be released early (i.e. before the expiry of the normal period of isolation) following registration of two negative home tests separated by at least 24 hours. There is a duty on category B persons who have tested positive through a self-administered test to notify the Director of Public Health (amended reg.14(3)).

Schedule 2 was revoked. This schedule formerly provided, in tabular form, a range of rules for different categories of person in relation to self-isolation. As restrictions have been substantially reduced, this is no longer necessary.

Finally, the PHR now incorporates a number of conditions of self-isolation which were incorporated into individual, standardised, direction notices issued to individuals (see new reg.14A). This is consistent with a general tendency of the new administration to move coronavirus restrictions and rules further up the legal chain in terms of formality and scrutiny – something to be applauded.

PHR Amendment (no.21) was created on the 10^th of January (or Janaury as the text states), and came into effect at 4am on the 11^th. Under this regulation, any person entering the Isle of Man who has not travelled outside the Common Travel area, or a fully vaccinated person who has travelled outside the Common Travel Area but not in a Category 3 country, is no longer required to self-isolate; or to undergo a PCR test within 48 hours of arrival, and self-isolate pending the results. Instead they are required to self-administer a lateral flow test as soon as possible after arrival, and are obliged to report a positive test, becoming a category B person (see the amended reg.11B in particular).