August 17 2021
Kia Orana all Accommodators,
New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern has announced as of midnight 17 August NZT, New Zealand will move to Alert Level 4.
Cook Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Mark Brown has announced as of midnight 16 August CKT, Cook Islands will move to Alert Level 2.
With the threat that the Delta variant poses, and taking into consideration that the source of this positive case is still unknown, genome sequencing is still underway and with the presumption that all COVID-19 cases are considered a Variant of Concern until otherwise proven not to be, TMO is taking a precautionary approach to address this situation.
From 0800 Tuesday 17 August 2021, Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health will begin swabbing/testing of passengers who have arrived into the Cook Islands from New Zealand during the dates of Wednesday 11 – Monday 16 August, 2021 Cook Islands Time.
The following priority criteria will be placed on persons:
1. Who have been at an identified Location of Interest (locations of interest)
2. Who are symptomatic
3. Who reside and have been in the Coromandel during these dates.
TMO are seeking your assistance please to support a swift identification of these passengers. Persons will require to be tested by TMO and must remain in self-isolation at their accommodation, preferably in their room until further advised by TMO or upon the receipt of the test result. We ask for your assistance with the following steps:
1. Identify passengers who have arrived into the country from New Zealand between the dates of (and including) Wednesday 11 August and Monday 16 August.
2. Passengers are asked to please remain self-isolated at their accommodation
3. If the passenger meets any of the priority criteria listed, then please ask guests to call TMO for an appointment to swab
The following priority criteria will be placed on persons:
• Who have been at an identified Location of Interest (locations of interest)
• Who are symptomatic
• Who reside and have been in the Coromandel during these dates
TMO will visit establishments from tomorrow morning (17/08/2021) at their accommodations to commence interviewing and swabbing if required.
Contact Tracing phone numbers are – 57481, 57482, 57486, 56199
For all Pa Enua accommodators, we ask you to take the same steps and please contact your on-island TMO Health Provider.
We thank you in advance for your support and cooperation. We will endeavour to provide updates to you as we can.
Kia Manuia,
Bob Williams, Secretary of Health