Cabinet convened a special meeting today to review the Cook Islands’ response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Due to the increased number of patients seen at the ‘coughs and colds’ flu clinic at Blackrock, this clinic will be relocated to the Tupapa Outpatients Clinic effective Friday 13 March 2020.

As part of Te Marae Ora’s preparations to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, health care services are being reorganised to optimise social distancing and emergency response systems in Rarotonga and the Pa Enua.

The cruise ship Maasdam will be arriving in Rarotonga on Wednesday.

Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health (TMO) has undertaken a thorough risk assessment of the ship for COVID-19 and wants to reassure the public that there is low risk to public health.

Today Cabinet approved the Cook Islands Emergency Response Plan to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Secretary of Health, Dr Josephine Herman encourages people to share accurate information about COVID-19. “We know that there has been some misinformation on Facebook but it’s really important that we stick to the facts about COVID-19,” she said.

Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health (TMO) is closely monitoring the situation regarding two people in voluntary self-quarantine in Rarotonga.

Persons intending to travel to the Cook Islands who have been in – Peoples Republic of China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau) Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Italy and Iran, within the last 14 days prior to travel, will be denied entry into the Cook Islands.