The global community is responding to pandemic COVID-19 with over 200,000 deaths reported worldwide.
On 16 April 2020 (CI time), the Cook Islands was declared a COVID-19 free zone. This followed a collective whole of country public health effort, which continues to be under threat in the absence of a vaccine or proven treatment against COVID-19.
Since 22 January 2020, the Cook Islands Government has implemented mitigating measures to protect the Cook Islands population. One of these has included progressive border restriction measures up until 25 March 2020, denying entry to the Cook Islands except for those of Cook Islands heritage and/or valid work permits, and requiring all travellers to complete a 14 day supervised quarantine and medical clearance process in Auckland.
As a consequence of these border security measures, some Cook Islands residents and returning Cook Islanders were stranded in New Zealand. The Government of the Cook Islands has approved for the repatriation of eligible Cook Islanders and work permit holders as part of the COVID-19 repatriation programme.
All other travellers intending to visit the Cook Islands are advised to monitor the www.covid19.gov.ck website, for any changes to border restrictions.
To prevent, limit and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in the Cook Islands, the government through Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health is reviewing options to safely lift the Cook Islands border restrictions, while mitigating the risk of introducing COVID-19 to the Cook Islands.
We ask for your patience during this time while we continue to manage this situation.
For all queries, please visit covid19.gov.ck or email TMOAH_PHDoctor@cookislands.gov.ck