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COVID-19

Cook Islands situation

The Cook Islands is in Code Yellow (Alert Phase) of the national emergency response plan to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). On 16 April 2020, we were declared  COVID-19 free. While this is significant, it is critical to maintain and practise good public health measures. As a result, Te Marae Ora must remain in a state of preparedness and readiness – poised to respond rapidly to any threat of COVID-19.

Read the emergency response plan

Latest Updates

Helmets save lives

The mandatory helmet law making it compulsory for everyone riding a motorbike, scooter or electric bike to wear a helmet will be officially enforced from tomorrow, October 1, 2020.

September 30, 2020

Uphold the supervised quarantine process

With another flight bringing more returning Cook Islanders and Cook Islands residents back home this Friday, health ministry Te Marae Ora would like to remind our people to continue to uphold the conditions imposed on those in supervised quarantine.

September 30, 2020

Zero Cases

There continues to be no case of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands.

Inwards travel continues with exemptions

Cook Islands residents and permit holders may enter the country provided they meet border requirements, including 14 days supervised quarantine on arrival to Rarotonga.

Register to return to the Cook Islands

Register with Immigration Cook Islands on email: immigration2@cookislands.gov.ck. Registrations close at 11:59pm Wednesday (NZ time) in the week prior to your flight departing Auckland.

Health requirements for Inwards travellers

This includes COVID-19 testing within 96 hours of departure from Auckland, exit clearance and 14 days supervised quarantine on Rarotonga, in a pre-approved residence.

Yellow Flag indicates quarantine area

Only authorised officials (Police, Te Marae Ora) may enter the quarantine area.

Be kind to yourself and others

Let's continue to show kindness and compassion to each other during this time.

Public Health Measures

Basic hygiene measures at home and work is the best defence to protect yourself and those who live with you. These hygiene measures include:

  • Keep a safe distance (at least 2 metres) from others
  • Avoid touching, shaking hands, hugging and kissing others
  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and dry well
  • Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces regularly such as door knobs, EFTPOS machines, touch screens
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Border control

We have placed additional health requirements at the border. This includes undergoing COVID-19 testing and exit screening prior to departure from Auckland, and undergoing supervised quarantine on arrival to Rarotonga in a pre-approved residence.

Health officials will screen arriving passengers at the airport, and assist with disinfecting luggage, cargo, and transport. 

  • tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck

Easing border restrictions

The Cook Islands Government decision to ease border restrictions is informed by the best available public health evidence provided by Te Marae Ora. Border restrictions are tightened or relaxed depending on basic epidemiological principles and understanding disease transmission patterns. As COVID-19 is still uncontrolled overseas, border measures outlined in the matrix are designed to be flexible and responsive to the disease transmission patterns of other countries. New Zealand has been used as an example in the matrix.

Easing border restrictions plan

Information before travel to Rarotonga

Updated information as at 17 September 2020
  • Register your intention to travel to the Cook Islands with Cook Islands Immigration on email: immigration2@cookislands.gov.ck. Registrations close at 11.59pm Wednesday (New Zealand time) in the week prior to your flight departing Auckland.
  • Get tested for COVID-19 within 96 hours of your flight departing The test must be negative.
  • Confirm your place of residence where you will be undertaking supervised quarantine in Rarotonga, for 14 days. Contact Te Marae Ora on email: tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck.
  • Visit your GP for a health check if you feel unwell, and ensure you have adequate medicine
  • COVID-19 tests are available free at community-based testing centres in Auckland.
  • Please contact your usual GP in New Zealand for further information regarding testing centr If you do not have an Auckland based GP, please contact Te Marae Ora on email: tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck
  • When you present for your test, ensure you have a mobile number and email address so that the test results can be sent to your phone and / or Forward the results to Te Marae Ora on email: tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck.
  • If you require further assistance contact your GP. It will be the responsibility of the traveller to make the necessary arrangements and cover any associated cost with undertaking COVID-19 testing prior to departur
  • As soon as possible, noting that results may not be available for one to three days.
  • COVID-19 tests must be arranged within 96 hours of your flight departing Auckland.
  • No.
  • If you know you will not be receiving the results of your COVID-19 test prior to your check-in, please contact Te Marae Ora directly by either; email: tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck or Phone: Cook Islands +682 29 110
  • You cannot travel directly to the Cook Islands from Australia (or any other country). You will be required to stay in New Zealand for 14 days.
  • New Zealand requires all arrivals to enter their managed isolation facilities for 14 days.
  • Please check the New Zealand Government Managed Isolation and Quarantine website for applicable charges to enter their managed isolation facilities. https://www.miq.govt.nz/
  • Email tmo.exemptions@cookislands.gov.ck and advise the address of the residence that you wish to undertake your supervised quarantine for 14 days.
  • Te Marae Ora health officers, Police officers, and Puna representatives will visit the premises and conduct an assessment of its suitability for you to complete supervised quarantine.
  • If other family members will be residing with you, you must advise them that on your arrival, they will also be expected to undergo supervised quarantine for 14 days.
  • You must provide an alternative residence if a vulnerable person resides at your supervised quarantine residence.
  • Once Te Marae Ora has received the results of your COVID-19 test result (negative), and approved your nominated residence where you will undertake supervised quarantine in Rarotonga, your details will be communicated to Immigration Cook Islands who will provide final approval for you to travel to the Cook Islands.
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CookSafe

CookSafe is a contact tracing programme to assist health officials with contact assessment and management. Registration is voluntary, and users are issued a CookSafe card that contains a unique QR code. Venues participating in CookSafe will be provided with a scanner. The scanner automatically sends information (date, time, location) to a secure and encrypted database accessible to authorised health officials.

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  • tmo.support@cookislands.gov.ck
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Testing

There are two types of tests to identify the SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19. 1) RT-PCR and 2) Serology.

RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction) tests are the gold standard for COVID-19 testing. Samples are collected in two ways: nasopharyngeal (via the nose) swabs or oropharyngeal (via the mouth) swabs. The PCR test detects genetic material from the virus, the RNA – if it is present, you may receive a positive test result indicating infection.

Serology tests are conducted using your blood sample. It detects antibodies in your body and checks your immune response toward COVID-19. A positive serology test result may indicate past infection. A serology test is not diagnostic, but useful for surveillance. 

Laboratory testing for COVID-19 involves a mixture of in-country testing, and sending swabs to New Zealand reference laboratories for analysis. You can only receive a test if it is ordered by a clinician at Te Marae Ora. 

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Key information

Up-to-date information on COVID-19

COVID-19 is a new respiratory illness. It is caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The World Health Organization declared it a pandemic on 12 March 2020.

Common symptoms include a new or worsening cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, cold-like symptoms (such as sneezing and runny nose), and a loss of smell, with or without fever (>38°C). 

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, that causes COVID-19, is spread through the following modes: 1) large droplet spread; 2) aerosalised spread (for example coughing and sneezing); and 3) contact with respiratory secretions (for example contaminated surfaces).

You can become infected through direct contact with infected droplets released through coughing, sneezing, talking, singing or even hugging others. If infected droplets land on a surface or object, you can become infected by putting your hand on the contaminated surface/object and touching your face, mouth or nose.

Practising good public health measures such as washing your hands regularly, keeping physical distance from others (at least 2 metres), staying home when unwell and covering your coughs and sneezes, is the best line of defence against the virus.

It is important that you avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, being in enclosed spaces (such as waiting rooms) with others who may be sick, and avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands with others.

No. Healthy children are considered lower risk compared to those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as cancer or diabetes) and the elderly.

There are four Codes in the Cook Islands emergency response to COVID-19.

  • Code Blue is the preparation and readiness phase. This Code means there is no case of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands, and measures focus on delaying the entry of the disease at the border and through strict public health measures.
  • Code Yellow is the Alert Phase. In this Code, there is a possibility of a suspected case of COVID-19. Measures focus on delaying widespread disease transmission.
  • Code Red is the Mitigation phase. This Code will be activated when a case requires a coordinated national emergency response to manage it.
  • Code Green is the Recovery phase. This Code will be activated when the disease is declining and treatment or vaccine supplies are available.

Despite having no COVID-19 cases, the Cook Islands remains in Code Yellow due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19 outside our borders.

 

No. There is no antiviral treatment or vaccine available at this stage.

Isolation is the separation of people who are ill or have symptoms of illness, from others in the population.

Quarantine is the separation of people (who are well) from others in the population, because they may have been exposed to the virus or infection.