13 May 2021 | 11:36 AM UTC
Pacific: Nations and territories continue to adjust COVID-19-related measures as of May 13 /update 55
South Pacific nations and territories continue to adjust COVID-19-related measures as of May 13. Travel restrictions ongoing.
Event
Countries and territories in the South Pacific region continue to adjust restrictions to stem the spread of 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 May 13, the following controls are in place:
American Samoa: The government extended a state of emergency declaration through May 18, and officials are maintaining a Code Blue threat level, the lowest on a three-tiered scale. A 00:01-05:00 curfew remains in effect. All public gatherings, including business operations and public transport, are permitted outside curfew hours. 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 are occurring.
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 plan to allow testing and quarantine-free travel from New Zealand beginning May 17, though random testing remains possible for inbound passengers. Authorities have relaxed most domestic restrictions.
Federated States of Micronesia: A Declaration of Public Health Emergency remains in effect through at least May 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.
Guam: A public health emergency remains in place through at least May 31. The government is implementing Pandemic Condition of Readiness Level 3 (PCOR-3). Officials will allow social gatherings of up to 100 people from 08:00 May 15. Authorities permit retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues to operate at 75-percent capacity; group limits remain in place for restaurants. 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, India, 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. From May 15, authorities will exempt all arrivals who have been fully vaccinated with a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccine from undergoing quarantine.
Kiribati: The government has extended the border closure until further notice. 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. Officials will deny entry to travelers who do not have a health clearance. Authorities have also increased security at all ports of entry. Nonessential businesses remain suspended.
Marshall Islands: Most inbound international travelers remain banned until May 31. 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 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 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, despite reported COVID-19 cases. A 00:01-04:00 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 05:00-23:00 daily at 75-percent capacity. Restaurants and bars must limit customers to 50 percent of capacity; owners must ensure employees have protective equipment, conduct temperature checks for patrons, and make sure 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, India, 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 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 their release.
Palau: The government requires international travelers to apply for and receive a quarantine certificate 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. Palau allows quarantine-free travel from Taiwan; inbound travelers must complete the quarantine certificate process, take a COVID-19 test at the airport before departing Taiwan, and adhere to predefined tour group itineraries.
Samoa: Officials have lifted limits on public gatherings, but 2-meter (6-foot) physical distancing requirements remain in place. Most businesses can operate 06:00-22:00 Monday-Saturday; essential shops, such as grocery stores and fuel stations, can operate 15:00-22:00 on Sunday. Restaurants can open 06:00-23:00 Monday-Saturday and 12:00-22:00 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: 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. Most nonresident foreign nationals remain banned. However, people who have been in designated low-risk places, such as Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and all South Pacific locations, except Papua New Guinea and French Polynesia, for 28 days before departure can enter the country. Most international commercial flights and all cruise ships remain banned, though repatriation flights and services from Brisbane, Australia, are occurring. Foreign nationals must seek permission from the prime minister's office for entry. Entrants must complete a Pre-Departure Questionnaire and Instructions on Conduct at least five days before outbound flights. Officials also require a Pre-Departure Checklist submitted one day before departure. Allowed travelers from low-risk locations must take COVID-19 tests 14 days before and within 72 hours of departure, while travelers from other locations must undergo COVID-19 testing 18-21 days and 8-11 days prior to departure, as well as take a third test within 72 hours of departure. People who can still enter the country have to quarantine for 14 days at designated sites upon arrival at their own expense. 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 June 7. 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 00:01-05:00 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.
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.
