Questions and Answers for Travellers to Rarotonga

Supervised quarantine is an effective precautionary measure to protect those around you and in the Cook Islands – your family, friends, and colleagues – from catching COVID-19. It means taking simple, public health measures to avoid close physical contact with other people as much as possible.

It is important to note supervised quarantine is a specific public health concept used to remove some people from others for a short period of time, to prevent, limit or mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 and its effects in the Cook Islands.

Your supervised quarantine process will be governed by a Category Quarantine Order under the COVID-19 Act 2020.

You can undertake your supervised quarantine at the residence of your choice or alternative dwelling that has been pre-approved by Te Marae Ora prior to your departure from Auckland.

Any other person living in that dwelling will also be subject to supervised quarantine for 14 days.

The place where you are undertaking your supervised quarantine will be marked with a yellow flag to allow monitoring by the local Community Health Clinic services, community, and Puna, and to alert others that the dwelling is under quarantine restrictions.

Quarantine is for 14 days from the time you arrive in the Cook Islands. It starts on arrival at Rarotonga International Airport.

The rules of supervised quarantine are set out in the category quarantine order which will be provided to persons who are subject to the order and include that:

• You will need to stay within the boundaries of your property at all times (and so will those living with you).
• You will receive daily health checks during your stay. This is a vital process for your wellbeing and for the wellbeing and health of others around you. You are required to cooperate fully with health officials to ensure health checks can be completed efficiently and effectively.
• You must follow any further directions given by health officials.

Any breach of the quarantine requirements may result in prosecution and a term of imprisonment of up to 12 months or a fine not exceeding $10,000

You may go outside your room or home, but you must stay within the parameters of your private property / yard. Any form of exercise is permitted provided this is within the confines of your private property.

No. You cannot leave your property.

You must arrange with family or friends to deliver food, water, and other essential medicines to your property. Food, water, essential medicines, and personal items should be dropped off at the edge of your property.

If you need assistance with having these items delivered to your property, please let the health official know during the daily health checks and other arrangements will be made.

Health officials will be available daily to assist you should you require medicines.

No, you cannot have family and friends visit you. 

Food, water, essential medicines, and personal items should be dropped off at the edge of your property.

Your emotional and mental health is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely, but there are some things you can do to feel better.

• Reach out to your usual support networks, like family and friends, and talk about how you feel.
• Try to keep to a routine such as having regular mealtimes, bedtimes and exercising. 

If you feel you are not coping, it is important to talk with a health professional. For support with grief, anxiety, distress, or mental wellbeing, you can call 0800 1814, to talk with a trained counsellor.

No. The Cook Islands Government wants to keep the Pa Enua COVID-19 free.

Any person planning on travelling to the Pa Enua must arrange for accommodation to undertake supervised quarantine in Rarotonga.

Should you require assistance arranging somewhere to undertake supervised quarantine in Rarotonga, please contact Te Marae Ora directly at the following; Email: tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck or Phone: Cook Islands +682 29 110

You will be responsible for the cost of undergoing supervised quarantine in Rarotonga.

If you start feeling unwell – including with symptoms of fever, a cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose or loss of smell – please remain in your home and contact health officials on 0800 1800 or 0800 1801.

Provided that you have tested negative for COVID-19 and you are not displaying any symptoms, your quarantine will end after 14 days and you can move around freely.

If you test positive or start to show symptoms, then you may be subject to an Isolation Order and put into supervised isolation.

A risk assessment will be undertaken for you and any persons that have been residing with you or who might have come into close physical contact with you.

You and any other persons who are deemed to have come in close physical contact with you will be placed in supervised isolation/quarantine in a facility that will be determined by Te Marae Ora. Case and contact tracing procedures will follow. Te Marae Ora will advise and support you through this process.

Should you develop COVID-19 symptoms and require hospitalisation, you will be transferred to Rarotonga Hospital and admitted in the COVID-19 isolation ward.

You will be responsible for the cost of undergoing supervised quarantine / supervised isolation in your home in Rarotonga. If you require hospitalisation, Te Marae Ora will cover your hospitals costs (if you qualify).