Acting Secretary of Health Bob Williams with the support of Cabinet has confirmed that those passengers departing Auckland tomorrow morning will be entering Supervised Quarantine on arrival in Rarotonga.
Passengers should also be prepared to be in Supervised Quarantine for up to 14 days.
At a minimum, returnees will be in Supervised Quarantine until Sunday. All passengers will be tested once they are in their room at the supervised quarantine facility. Te Marae Ora will be using in-country tests.
The weekend will allow Te Marae Ora time to fully analyse the situation in New Zealand.
Earlier this week as has been widely reported new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in New Zealand.
“I appreciate this is a less than ideal situation for those currently booked on tomorrow’s flight. Whilst we are confident that the New Zealand Ministry of Health has put in place measures to identify and mitigate any public health risk or threat to the NZ public and that an incredible amount of testing has taken place this past week, there are still a number of tests results to come in. Out of an abundance of caution and until those New Zealand test results are known and passengers have themselves returned an in-country negative test and we have a clear picture of the NZ situation, returnees (and I will be one of them) will need to remain in Supervised Quarantine” said Mr Williams.
“This situation we find ourselves in is the reality of the ‘new norm’ we are going to have to navigate. Te Marae Ora is steadily strengthening our systems and ability to rapidly respond to such situations to maintain our COVID-19 free status. The public has a role to play too; wash and try your hands regularly, cover sneezes and coughs, practice physical distancing, tag in whenever you see the CookSafe sign.
The government will be funding the costs of accommodation at the Edgewater.
ENDS: Enquiries to Jaewynn McKay +682 55486