Secretary of Health Dr Aumea Josephine Herman today confirmed this week’s repatriation flight will depart Auckland on Saturday, arriving here Friday as planned.
Earlier this week as has been widely reported two new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in New Zealand.
“This is unfortunate, however we are confident that the New Zealand Ministry of Health has put in measures to identify and mitigate any public health risk or threat to the NZ public. We will continue to monitor the situation”.
Health authorities in New Zealand are now following up all those who may have come in contact with the two women and testing them.
Contact tracing is an essential tool in containing any disease outbreak – not just coronavirus. Here in the Cook Islands the government and private sector will later this week start trialing CookSafe a contact tracing system.
“This 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 in order to maintain our COVID-19 free status.
We look forward to welcoming our Cook Islanders arriving from Auckland in a few days.
ENDS: Enquiries to Jaewynn McKay +682 55486