Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced the Cook Islands will move to Alert Level 2 effective midnight August 16, 2021.
After careful consideration by Cabinet this evening, and based on the information available at this time, all necessary precautions have been considered. “While the epidemiological variance and transmission link for the community case in New Zealand is still being investigated, we must act swiftly here to minimize exposure risk for the Cook Islands so we remain safe” states Prime Minister Brown.
This alert level change will mean that international inwards passenger arrivals for the next 72 hours are suspended. This pause on international arrivals will allow Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health to test arriving passengers from 11 August. This also means domestic travel to the Pa Enua from Rarotonga is suspended for 72 hours also.
Passengers can return to New Zealand from Rarotonga. Passengers from Pa Enua can return back to Rarotonga.
“This is a good time to remind ourselves of the need to practice good hygiene measures, and to actively tag in with CookSafe and CookSafe+” Prime Minister Brown adds.
Cook Islands Cabinet will meet again tomorrow to consider new updated information received and next steps.
For more information, please visit: www.covid19.gov.ck