Despite the outbreak of Covid-19 Omicron in New Zealand, the quarantine-free travel bubble with the Cook Islands remains open.
Yesterday, the Cook Islands cabinet met after receiving notification that two visitors from Aotearoa visited Covid-19 locations of interest before they left. In addition to keeping the bubble open, the government says it will introduce a variety of control measures similar to New Zealand’s red traffic light system to lower the risk for 17,459 residents.
Almost all public indoor settings, including retail and hospitality workplaces, and churches, have been mandated to wear masks, and a maximum of 100 people can attend any gathering, regardless of vaccination status.
From today, travelers from Rarotonga will also be required to undergo rapid antigen testing (RAT), and no unvaccinated individuals will be permitted to enter the Cook Islands for the next month, unless granted an exemption as a resident or parent or caregiver of a child under five without vaccinations.
The Ministry of Health reports that the couple that was recently identified has tested negative, so any arriving close contacts will also be required to quarantine in the islands.
According to the government in a statement, the couple tested negative on Saturday and are in quarantine until they test negative on Day 5 and Day 9. Only after they test negative for both remaining tests will they be released.
Since January 14, New Zealand residents have been able to travel to the Cook Islands without quarantine. Local tourism operators report an increase in bookings.
With 99.6 percent of the population (12,971 people) having had their first dose of vaccination, the Cook islands are among the highest vaccinated nations in the world; officials maintain high vaccination rates are essential considering the islands’ limited healthcare infrastructure. There has been no case of Covid-19 detected in the Cook Islands.
