09 Nov 2022 | 07:48 AM UTC
Pacific: Nations and territories in South Pacific maintaining most COVID-19-related restrictions as of Nov. 9 /update 75
South Pacific nations and territories maintaining COVID-19 restrictions as of Nov. 9. Disruptions ongoing in some locations.
Event
Countries and territories in the South Pacific region are adjusting domestic and international restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of Nov. 9, the following measures are in effect:
Guam: A state of emergency remains in place through at least Dec. 6. Facemasks remain mandatory in healthcare settings. 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 from countries with limited vaccine availability, and foreign government officials.
Marshall Islands: Officials only require facemasks in healthcare settings and on public transport. People that display COVID-19 symptoms must get tested. Individuals that test positive for COVID-19 must self-quarantine for five days and be asymptomatic for 24 hours before reentering the community. Arrivals 18 years old and above must be fully vaccinated to enter the country. Inbound passengers must complete a health declaration card and wear facemasks in public for five days after arrival.
Niue: The government permits international travelers via flights from New Zealand; inbound maritime travel has resumed. All inbound passengers must submit a Niue Traveller Declaration to obtain a travel pass, provide evidence they were fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in the previous three months, and obtain a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours before departure. Nonresidents must also hold travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation. Entrants do not have to quarantine upon arrival. All inbound passengers must undergo COVID-19 PCR testing on days 1 and 3 after arrival. People that test positive for COVID-19 while in Niue and their close contacts must self-quarantine at their accommodation for seven days at their own expense.
Northern Mariana Islands: The government is maintaining the Community Vulnerability Level at Green - the lowest level. Gatherings of over 150 people remain limited if participants are unvaccinated. Officials mandate facemasks at medical facilities and COVID-19 testing in some circumstances. Authorities require people that get COVID-19 to self-quarantine for five days and undergo testing before exiting. 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. Authorities no longer require a health declaration or pre-departure testing. 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 18 years old and above to be fully vaccinated to enter the country. However, officials will permit unvaccinated travelers with a medical exemption or completion of an attestation form and permission from health officials. Permitted unvaccinated travelers must wear facemasks in public during a five-day monitoring period and immediately self-quarantine and undergo testing if they begin displaying COVID-19 symptoms. 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 only present at exposure sites. The government requires facemasks in schools, medical facilities, and all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people. Violators will face fines and/or imprisonment.
Tuvalu: The government requires people that test positive in the country to self-quarantine amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. Almost all commercial flights remain suspended. However, the government may approve sporadic repatriation flights for fully vaccinated passengers. Travelers 18 years old and above must also provide proof of a COVID-19 booster vaccine dose. The government has ended pre-departure quarantine in Suva, Fiji; however, arrivals must still undergo a seven-day quarantine and daily testing upon entry. The government covers quarantine costs for returning citizens.
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.
