Niue has reported its first case of Covid-19, becoming the second island in the Pacific to lose its Covid-zero status within a week.
The Niuean government says the case arrived on a flight from New Zealand, with 26 other passengers on Monday. The travellers tested negative for the virus prior to departing.
“The positive case is currently in quarantine and will be monitored closely by Niue’s health officials,” its premier Dalton Tagelagi said. “We understand at this stage that the positive case is double vaccinated and boosted and had returned a negative PCR test 72 hours and RATs before boarding their flight from New Zealand.”
Tagelagi said the country has been expecting the virus and preparing for it. “We are ready to contain its spread. We have remained vigilant; we have caught this case – and now I ask you to remain vigilant too,” Tagelagi urged Niueans.
The nation, which has a population of just under 2,000 people, has a high vaccination rate – 97% of those aged 16 and over, and 98% for those between 12-16 years old.
“Our extremely high vaccination rate is another factor in our favour, as it slows the spread of transmission and reduces the health impacts in those who do contract this virus.”
Officials deemed to have come in close contact with the positive case are now isolating and will be closely monitored and tested. All other passengers have returned a negative test but will be retested on day three, the premier said.
Niue is the second island to record its first case this week. New Zealand’s Chatham Islands, which is 800 kilometres off the mainland’s east coast and one of the most remote inhabited places in the world, also reported its first case over the weekend.
The World Health Organization says there are just eight other countries that have not reported any Covid-19 cases including Tuvalu, Tokelau, Saint Helena, Pitcairn Islands, Nauru, and Federated States of Micronesia. Turkmenistan and North Korea also report zero cases, but the organisation has cast doubt over these claims.
