Pacific: Nations and territories in South Pacific maintaining most COVID-19-related restrictions as of March 16. /update 66

Event

Countries and territories in the South Pacific region are adjusting domestic and international restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of March 16, planned or active controls include:

• Federated States of Micronesia: A public health emergency declaration remains in effect through at least May 31. The government continues to ban all inbound flights, except for cargo deliveries and repatriation. However, temporary suspensions of repatriation have occurred at short notice. Those entering the country via repatriation flights must quarantine for at least seven days after arrival. Inbound commercial vessels must follow social distancing protocols and quarantine rules.

• Guam: A public health emergency remains in place through at least April 2. Gatherings can occur for up to 100 people indoors; officials have ended group limits outdoors. Authorities allow all businesses and services to operate at full capacity, and the government has lifted all vaccination requirements for staff and patrons. Officials mandate facemasks in all public areas. All companies must maintain customer information for contact-tracing purposes. Only foreign nationals fully vaccinated with Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac can enter the territory. Exceptions are possible for people under 18 years old; individuals with medical, humanitarian, or emergency exceptions; people with valid visas departing countries with limited vaccine availability; and foreign government officials. All travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test or antigen test; vaccinated arrivals must take tests within 72 hours of departure, while unvaccinated travelers must take tests 24 hours before departure. Inbound travelers must take tests 24 hours or less before departure. Alternatively, travelers can present proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days. The government requires unvaccinated arrivals to quarantine at a government facility for 10 days. However, fully vaccinated travelers or arrivals with a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 24 hours before departure are exempt from quarantine.

• Marshall Islands: Most inbound international travelers remain banned until further notice. Individuals wishing to enter the Marshall Islands must receive permission from authorities in advance. 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 all entrants to quarantine for 21 days. 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 Taiwan and most Pacific countries. Officials are banning inbound passenger flights from Australia through early February. 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 onboard vessels; ships can only enter the port after test results become available. Air cargo operations are ongoing with quarantine measures for the crew.

• Niue: Most foreign nationals remain banned from entry; however, exceptions are in place for fully vaccinated children, spouses, and other dependents of Niue residents, as well as for diplomats and essential workers. The government requires travelers to apply to enter the country. All inbound passengers must remain in New Zealand for two weeks before travel, provide evidence they were fully vaccinated, and obtain a negative COVID-19 test result 72 hours or less before departure. Nonresident foreigners must also hold travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation. Most international flights remain suspended; officials permit a flight from Auckland, New Zealand, once every two weeks for repatriation and essential personnel. Entrants must quarantine at government-designated facilities for 14 days and undergo COVID-19 testing on arrival and before exiting quarantine.

• Northern Mariana Islands: A state of public health emergency order remains in effect. The government is maintaining the Community Vulnerability Level at Green - the lowest level. Gatherings of over 150 people remain limited, and authorities continue to require facemasks in many public indoor venues. Occupancy at indoor venues is limited to 50 percent unless patrons are fully vaccinated. A 00:01-04:00 curfew is in place. Only foreign nationals fully vaccinated with Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac can enter the territory. Exceptions are possible for people under 18 years old; individuals with medical, humanitarian, or emergency exceptions; people with valid visas departing countries with limited vaccine availability; and foreign government officials. All arrivals must present a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure. Alternatively, travelers can present proof of having recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days. Unvaccinated entrants must continue to self-quarantine at appropriate accommodations for five days and take a COVID-19 test on day 5.

• Palau: Officials require individuals 12 years old and above to be fully vaccinated to enter the country. Inbound travelers three years old and above must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of departure. Travelers can also show proof of recent recovery from COVID-19 and medical clearance for travel. Inbound passengers must undergo testing on arrival and day 4 after entry. Officials will also issue mitigation orders to travelers upon entry. Officials may issue quarantine orders for 14 days for people exposed to confirmed COVID-19 cases; authorities could quarantine other individuals for less time if present at exposure sites only. The government requires facemasks in all indoor public areas and outdoor gatherings of 20 or more people. Violators will face fines and/or imprisonment.

• Samoa: The government is maintaining Level 1 restrictions, the second-lowest level on a four-tier scale. Public gatherings, transport services, including buses, ferries, and domestic flights, can occur according to social distancing protocols. Most commercial establishments may operate from 06:00-22:00 Monday to Saturday. Most foreign nationals and international flights remain banned until further notice; some repatriation and cargo flights occur with government approval. The government approves inbound travel on a case-by-case basis; entrants must submit a request to health authorities 21 days before the planned journey. Officials have banned all passengers who have been in or transited high-risk countries Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Eswatini, Germany, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the UK, the US, and Zimbabwe. Travel is possible from American Samoa with permission. Authorities continue to bar entry for anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result within six months of arrival from entry. All arrivals 12 years old and above must be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to entry. Passengers must provide a hard copy of their vaccination certification and medical clearance obtained within 120 hours before initial departure that states if they have had COVID-19. Travelers must also receive a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours before departure. Officials require individuals to quarantine for at least 14 days, though officials will extend quarantine time for arrivals that test positive for COVID-19. The government has also suspended home quarantine options for most travelers; diplomats and people arriving from New Zealand and Pacific countries and territories without COVID-19 can still apply for home quarantine.

• Tuvalu: Almost all commercial flights remain suspended. However, the government may approve sporadic repatriation flights. Inbound travelers are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine before entering the country.

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. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)