Pacific: Nations and territories continue to adjust coronavirus disease-related measures as of Feb. 16 /update 50

Event

Countries and territories in the South Pacific region continue to adjust restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Several governments are maintaining public health emergencies but have eased or lifted movement and business restrictions. Measures vary across the region. As of Feb. 16, the following controls are in place:

• American Samoa: The government extended a state of emergency declaration through March 1, and officials are maintaining a Code Blue threat level, the lowest on a three-tiered scale. A 0001-0500 curfew remains in effect. All public gatherings, including religious services, business operations, and public transport, are permitted outside curfew hours. Businesses must restrict capacity to 50 percent. Authorities continue to suspend the issuance of entry permits until further notice. Inbound travelers must test negative for COVID-19 twice; the first test result is required to contact health staff for entry permission, while a second test must take place within 72 hours of travel. Arrivals must quarantine for 15 days, except for medical workers. Authorities continue to suspend commercial passenger flights, though some repatriation or other specially-approved flights will occur.

• Cook Islands: Most travelers remain banned from entry, except citizens, permanent residents, work permit holders, and resident permit holders. Passengers traveling to the Cook Islands must complete a COVID-19 test no earlier than 96 hours of departing for the islands. Arriving travelers must still spend 14 days in New Zealand before arrival; authorities have lifted and reinstated a 14-day quarantine requirement for travelers from New Zealand depending on COVID-19 activity. Authorities have relaxed most domestic restrictions. Bars and nightclubs have reopened, but officials are restricting operating hours to 1100-1800 through March.

• Federated States of Micronesia: A Declaration of Public Health Emergency remains in effect through at least March 31. The government continues to ban all inbound flights, except cargo deliveries and repatriation flights, though authorities have temporarily suspended repatriation activity. Those entering the country via repatriation flights must quarantine for 21 days after arrival. Officials have lifted a ban on citizens traveling to countries affected by COVID-19. Authorities are also enforcing enhanced health precautions for cargo and tanker vessels entering Micronesian ports.

• Fiji: The government is allowing flights into the country. Fiji Airways (FJ) continues to suspend all international flights, though repatriation flights are occurring. Officials require allowed passengers to undergo a 14-day quarantine and download the government's careFiji contact-tracing mobile application. Authorities have called on Fijian nationals to suspend outbound travel. Restrictions remain in place nationwide, though officials have relaxed some gathering and commercial measures. Some venues, including theaters and those hosting community events like weddings, can operate at 50-percent capacity. Gyms and pools have reopened. Some classes have resumed, including for Year 12 and 13 students. Inter-island transport has resumed, and Fiji Link (FJ) has restarted limited domestic flights. Cruise ships remain banned from docking. A 2300-0400 curfew remains in effect; officers are monitoring roads during the curfew and will send home people who are without valid reasons, such as work or emergency purposes. Businesses with shift workers during curfew hours must provide employees with a letter on their work requirements and hours and an official contact number for verification. People who breach regulations could face fines or imprisonment.

• Guam: A public health emergency remains in place through at least March 1, and the government is maintaining Pandemic Condition of Readiness Level 2 (PCOR-2). Officials permit gatherings of up to 25 people, and the government has allowed several facilities to reopen, including beaches, parks, and pools. Authorities also let restaurants and entertainment venues operate at 50-percent capacity, with group limits in place. Outdoor fitness classes can take place at full capacity. Indoor religious services can also resume, and gyms, fitness centers, and dance studios can reopen, with the approval of social distancing plans. Owners must ensure 2 meters (6 feet) between customers at reopened establishments. Essential businesses, such as banks, grocery and convenience stores, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and gas stations, continue to operate without capacity limits. Officials continue to encourage work-from-home arrangements, though offices can resume operations; meetings are only allowed by appointment, including government services. All businesses must maintain customer information for contact-tracing purposes. Most nonresident foreign nationals who have visited Brazil, the UK, Ireland, Schengen Area countries, Iran, and China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) in the previous 14 days are banned from entry. Exceptions are in effect for relatives of citizens and permanent residents and diplomats, among others. All travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test taken within 72 hours of departure or evidence of having recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days. The government requires arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. Inbound passengers will quarantine at government facilities until receiving a COVID-19 test on the sixth day. Travelers that receive a negative test result can complete the remainder of the quarantine period at home.

• Kiribati: The government has extended the border closure until at least the end of February. Authorities allow cargo and humanitarian flights. Officials will authorize some repatriation flights, beginning with flights from countries and territories without COVID-19, in the coming weeks. Officials require all passengers to spend 14 days in a COVID-19-free country before entry and produce a health clearance for COVID-19. Travelers who do not have the required health clearance will not be allowed to enter Kiribati. Authorities have also increased security at all ports of entry. Nonessential businesses remain suspended.

• Marshall Islands: Inbound international travelers remain banned through at least March 4. Travel between Kwajalein and Majuro remains limited to Air Marshall Islands (CW). The government has suspended nonessential outbound air travel until further notice; departing citizens must request a government exemption. Some US military personnel have entered with a three-week quarantine period. Authorities require permitted citizens to quarantine at government facilities for 14 days on arrival, though some people may have to quarantine for up to 21 days if arriving without authorization. Entry for fishing vessels from countries or territories with COVID-19 activity, cruise ships, and private ships remains suspended. Cargo shipments are allowed, but ships must remain at sea for 14 days before entry.

• Nauru: Officials are allowing some essential international travel. Inbound passengers must spend 14 days in a designated safe country before entry; the designated countries include mostly Pacific countries, including Australia (except Victoria State), French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and New Zealand, among others. Arrivals must wear protective face coverings on inbound flights, complete a health declaration form, undergo checks for COVID-19 symptoms upon landing, and quarantine for at least five days at a designated residence under health observation before release. Aircrew members, medical workers, and transit passengers are exempt from the requirements. The government requires all commercial maritime crew to remain at sea for 14 days and provide documentation 12 hours before arrival; authorities will conduct COVID-19 tests on board vessels; ships can only enter the port after test results become available. Air cargo operations are ongoing with quarantine measures for the crew.

• New Caledonia: Officials have extended travel restrictions through at least July 31. Inbound international commercial flights remain suspended, though authorities will authorize some repatriation, freight, and medical transport flights. Some flights to Wallis and Futuna and France are operating. Foreign nationals remain banned from entry, except for those essential to the economy. Most returning residents have to quarantine for 14 days in government-run facilities; returning residents from Wallis and Futuna do not have to isolate. Officials will quarantine visitors displaying COVID-19 symptoms at a medical facility. The government has lifted all domestic COVID-19-related restrictions. Gatherings of all sizes may occur, restaurants and bars can operate without contact-tracing or capacity limits, and residents do not need to wear face coverings on public transport.

• Niue: Most foreign nationals remained banned from entry; however, exceptions are in place for the children, spouses, and other dependents of Niue residents, as well as for diplomats and essential workers. Nonresident essential workers require government approval before entry. Foreign nationals must quarantine in New Zealand for two weeks before travel. Officials are allowing weekly flights from Auckland, New Zealand, for repatriation and essential personnel; arrivals must quarantine for 14 days. Authorities continue to extend tourist visas for stranded foreign nationals at no cost.

• Northern Mariana Islands: A state of public health emergency order remains in effect. The government is maintaining the Community Vulnerability Level at Blue - the second-lowest level. A 0200-0400 nightly curfew continues, with exceptions for essential employees, medical care, and emergency services; violators will face fines. Social gatherings can occur with up to 25 people. Businesses can operate 0500-0100 daily at 75-percent capacity. Restaurants and bars must ensure employees have protective equipment and maintain physical distancing, conduct temperature checks for patrons, and ensure customers wear protective face coverings, except when eating. Some entertainment venues, such as gaming facilities and casinos, remain closed. Inter-island travel continues to operate. Most flights to the territory remain suspended. Most nonresident foreign nationals who have visited Brazil, the UK, Ireland, Schengen Area countries, Iran, and China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) in the previous 14 days are banned from entry. Exceptions are in effect for relatives of citizens and permanent residents and diplomats, among others. All travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test taken within 72 hours of departure or evidence of having recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days. Officials exempt inbound travelers from centralized quarantine if they complete a CNMI Mandatory Declaration Form at least three days before arrival, register on the Sara Alert Symptom Monitoring System, self-quarantine for 14 days, and consent to a COVID-19 test five days after arrival. Passengers who cannot provide proof that they have taken a PCR test must spend five to seven days in government-designated quarantine sites at their own cost and undergo testing before release.

• Palau: Officials have again suspended international travel due to global COVID-19 concerns. Once travel resumes, the government requires international travelers to apply for a quarantine certificate required to board flights. Inbound travelers must take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure and book a quarantine facility in advance. Travelers must pay for quarantine in most cases. Authorized travelers must quarantine for 14 days and agree to monitor and report their health for seven days beyond the quarantine period.

• Samoa: The government has extended the state of emergency through at least March 14. Officials have lifted limits on public gatherings, but 2-meter (6-foot) physical distancing requirements remain in place. Most businesses can operate 0600-2200 Monday-Saturday; essential shops, such as grocery stores and fuel stations, can operate 1500-2200 on Sunday. Restaurants can open 0600-2300 Monday-Saturday and 1200-2200 Sunday for dine-in or takeaway services. Ferry services between Savai'i and Upolu island are operating Monday-Saturday. Authorities will allow flights between the two islands for medical reasons on Sundays. Most foreign nationals and international flights remain banned until further notice; some repatriation flights may occur with government approval. Officials will approve inbound travel on a case-by-case basis; authorities previously barred residents with a positive COVID-19 test result within six months of arrival from entry. Returning travelers from most locations must provide a medical clearance obtained within 72 hours of initial departure and a COVID-19 antibody test taken within five days of initial departure. Passengers must also take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their scheduled arrival time in New Zealand before transiting to Samoa. Passengers who have stayed in New Zealand for the preceding 28 days or completed quarantine in New Zealand and spent less than 32 hours in the country do not have to take a COVID-19 antibody test. Travelers from American Samoa are also exempt from the antibody test requirement. Vaccinated passengers must provide evidence from a certified provider with vaccine type, dates of both doses, and a verification stamp from the vaccine provider. The government requires a minimum 14-day quarantine upon arrival, but authorities warn that quarantine can last up to 21 days.

• Solomon Islands: A state of public emergency remains in place through March 24. The government has begun to implement social distancing measures after two repatriated citizens tested positive for COVID-19 while in quarantine. Authorities have restricted the number of passengers in taxis and buses. The government continues to encourage Honiara's residents to avoid nonessential events and limit travel with other provinces. Casinos, pubs, kava bars, and nightclubs remain open but must follow social-distancing guidelines. Nonresident foreign nationals remain banned from entering the country. International flights and cruise ships remain banned, though some repatriation flights are occurring. National carrier Solomon Airlines (IE) has suspended scheduled commercial international flights through at least March 27. People who can still enter the country have to quarantine for 14 days at designated sites upon arrival. The government has increased security in border areas with Papua New Guinea's Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

• Tonga: Authorities have extended the state of emergency through March 15. Indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people, while outdoor events can involve up to 100 people; exceptions are in place for educational institutions and churches. A nightly 0001-0500 curfew remains in effect. Most nonessential businesses, like bars and gyms, have reopened. Cruise ships remain banned from docking. Foreign nationals remain banned from entering; Tongan citizens and emergency personnel can enter but must quarantine for 14 days. Arrivals must submit health declaration forms upon entry.

• Tuvalu: Inbound travelers are required to undergo 14-day quarantines before entering the country.

• Vanuatu: A state of emergency remains in effect through July 31. Domestic transport services have resumed. Inbound commercial international flights and cruise ships remain banned, though international cargo flights continue. Authorities are prohibiting nonresidents from entering the country. Officials have resumed repatriation flights, but citizens from designated high-risk countries are not allowed to enter until further notice. Travelers from low- and medium-risk locations can enter the country with a COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of departure. Officials require arriving passengers to quarantine for 28 days.

• Wallis and Futuna: The border remains effectively closed as passenger flights and ships remain banned. However, officials are allowing some travel with New Caledonia. Authorities are using thermal scanners to screen arriving passengers.

Countries and territories will likely continue to adjust their response in the coming days and weeks, depending on COVID-19 activity within their borders and neighboring countries.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)