The Cook Islands Government continues to take a proactive approach to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands, there is ongoing rapid spread globally.
Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health (TMO) is closely monitoring the situation regarding two people in voluntary self-quarantine in Rarotonga. One arrived overnight and was identified at the border as having visited one of the countries on the list of travel restrictions. The other individual was made known to TMO this morning by New Zealand health officials conducting contact tracing of one of their COVID-19 cases.
Neither persons in Rarotonga have any COVID-19 symptoms.
TMO Secretary Dr Josephine Herman says there is low risk for people who have been in contact with the two individuals who are in quarantine, and the precautionary measure being undertaken is standard public health practice for TMO.
Officials from the World Health Organization and New Zealand Ministry of Health are currently in the Cook Islands and have been training and offering advice to health workers, customs and immigration workers, and government officials.
For further information please visit health.gov.ck or call our 24-hour healthline 29 667.