The Pa Enua travel suspension was lifted at midnight yesterday.

The suspension applied to all the Outer Islands except Aitutaki and was put in place after Cook Islands’ first Covid case detected on February 13, 2022.

A statement from Te Marae Ora said: “This will allow only returning residents of each island who have been stranded on Rarotonga since the travel suspension.”

“Visitors or anyone travelling for other purposes will not be allowed by the respective island governments. The travel suspension may be reinstated again if cases of Covid-19 on Rarotonga continue to increase.”

Secretary of Health Bob Williams said there were stranded people on Rarotonga who need to go back.

“While there are no new cases in the community, we’re trying to get everybody back to their islands within the next few days.

“The position by the island government is should there be another community case they will have to close the border.”

Williams said a long-term decision on when the borders would be opened fully was “entirely a decision by the island government”.

“We’re just following those instructions, so they make the decision for the island.”