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Coronavirus: Sweeping restrictions introduced across the Pacific

A United Airlines aircraft on the tarmac in Marshall Islands

Auckland, NEW ZEALAND — Pacific countries have continued to introduce sweeping measures to try and offset the coronavirus.

Nauru has declared a national emergency, suspending all flights apart from a single fortnightly service to Brisbane.

All arrivals will be required to spend 14 days in transitional accomodation before being allowed into the community.

"Nauru is particularly vulnerable to the threat of the coronavirus. The global impact indicates that should this virus enter Nauru, the results could be devastating," the government said in a statement.

"Our first and foremost objective is to protect our people."

Vanuatu's prime minister, Charlot Salwai, in an address to the nation on Tuesday night, announced the temporary suspension of all seasonal worker schemes in Australia and New Zealand.

The commissioner of labour said those already booked to participate can travel, and special measures will be introduced for those returning.

Mr Salwai also extended a ban on cruise ships for another 30 days, and promised a reduction in international flights, although he gave few details.

He also promised serious steps for kava bars, night clubs, pubs and other public gathering places, while other places like business houses, churches and schools would be required to adopt vigorous cleaning routines.

The president of New Caledonia, Thierry Santa, last night said all flights to the territory will be suspended.

In a news conference, Mr Santa said the measure would apply from early next week, although "a minimum link with the mainland [France] will be maintained, in particular for health reasons," he said.

All passengers arriving in New Caledonia must now also self-isolate for 14-days, and violators will face a penalty of 750 euros (NZ$1380; US$823).

In Tonga, tougher measures were also introduced on Tuesday night, with people from countries with community transmission of Covid-19 now required to spend 14-days self-isolated in a country with fewer than 60 cases - a measure that affects Australia, which has recorded more than 350 cases and five deaths.

However the restriction does not apply to Tongan citizens, permanent residents or their immediate family members.

Meanwhile, a quarantine site has been set up at the Taliai Army Camp in Fua'amotu, with three people already being held there.

All cruise ships and yachts are now barred from Tonga indefinitely.

(Source: RNZ Pacific)

HEALTH CHECK AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT

All travelers flying to the Pacific Islands, excluding Tahiti, will now need to go through a health check at Auckland Airport in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Auckland Airport said the health check would take place in the international check-in area.

The assessments, including a temperature check, will be made by district health board nurses.

An Auckland Airport spokesman said it was part of the new border exit measure for travelers to the Pacific Islands announced by the Government.

All airlines, with flights to the Pacific Islands, are directing their passengers to undertake a health assessment prior to beginning their check-in process," he said.

Customs, police and Auckland Airport staff would be on site to help manage the process.

The health check is part of other measures put in place to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

New Zealand currently has eight confirmed cases of coronavirus.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced everyone arriving in the New Zealand would have to self isolate for 14 days, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tighter border controls were initially set from midnight Sunday, but were extended to 1a.m on Monday, to allow for late evening flights to be processed in time.

(Source: Stuff New Zealand)

TWO MORE CASES CONFIRMED IN GUAM

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Pacific has risen to eight, with two more people testing positive on Guam.

Guam's health department has tested dozens of people since the first cases on the island were confirmed on Sunday night.

Tuesday's cases include a relative of one of those confirmed to have the virus on Sunday, and another person who recently travelled to the Philippines.

All five confirmed cases are in isolation.

SUSPECTED CASES

The Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia say they both have one person each under investigation for Covid-19.

The person in the Marshall Islands is being quarantined at the US Army Garrison on Kwajalein Atoll, while a person in Pohnpei has also been sequestered.

The suspected cases follow the confirmation of the coronavirus in Guam and Hawaii - the two main entry points for both countries.

Meanwhile, the Marshall Islands has extended its ban on all incoming international travel for an additional two weeks. It has also banned domestic travel between Kwajalein and Majuro on United Airlines, because of fears people could be exposed to passengers on the Island Hopper service coming from Guam or Honolulu.

All states in the Federated States of Micronesia have now closed schools, while Marshall Islands schools remain open for now.

(Source: RNZ Pacific)

FIJI BANS CRUISE SHIPS OVER VIRUS FEARS

Fiji's government has banned cruise ships and international events, while foreigners will be banned from all local events.

In an address to the nation last night, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said all measures were being taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19 when it arrives in Fiji.

He said isolation units had been prepared in each of the country's divisions.

Mr Bainimarama said all government ministers and officials would be barred from overseas travel.

"Cruise ships will be banned from berthing anywhere in Fiji. Also from [Monday], international events will not be allowed in Fiji, and local events will be closed to all guests coming in from overseas.

"We also highly discourage all Fijians from traveling overseas."

Fiji has no confirmed cases of #COVID19.

Meanwhile, Hawaii's Lt. Governor says partnerships need to be formed across the region to improve vaccination rates.

Josh Green, who's also a qualified physician, travelled to Samoa in the midst of the measles epidemic last year to help treat patients and vaccinate people.

He said many countries did not have the budgets to maintain full vaccination levels, and some kind of basic safety net needed to be provided.

But Dr Green also hit out at people who travel to Pacific countries unvaccinated, or spread misinformation.

"I don't think it's moral to go and travel if you're sick or you could make other people sick, knowing that they may be vulnerable."

(Source: RNZ Pacific)

CHINA WORKS WITH PACIFIC TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

China and the Pacific Island countries met over video conference this week to talk novel coronavirus, with senior Chinese health experts answering the regions' questions about the disease that may have originated in China.

There were more than 100 people in the call, including the top leaders from health ministries in Papua New Guinea, the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga.

Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, the Cook Islands and Niue participated also.

The China-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Chief Expert, Wu Zunyou, briefed the conference about COVID-19’s pathogenic mechanism, transmission mode and epidemic development.

Director of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Peking University First Hospital, Wang Guiqiang, explained China’s prevention and control response, and the clinical treatment of the coronavirus.

Participants asked dozens of detailed questions, asking about the virus itself, how to protect medical workers, prevention and control, border control and quarantine, vaccine research and more.

In a press release about the video conference, the Chinese Embassy in Samoa said: “The epidemic respects no borders, while the brotherhood will be consolidated.”

Ambassador to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang said while news out of China is positive, the situation still needs to be monitored and the epidemic contained.

“At present, many countries are also facing the threat of the epidemic, and we share the same sorrow and pain with the countries where the outbreak is getting more severe,” he said in an opinion piece, published in the Samoa Observer.

“In the spirit of a community with a shared future for mankind, China is strengthening cooperation at regional and international level, sharing information and experience timely, and coordinating policies and resources with other countries and the World Health Organisation (WHO).”

(Sources: Samoa Observer / PacNews)