Covid-19 daily numbers have dropped significantly in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, leading Prime Minister Mark Brown to declare the pandemic all but over in those islands.

Figures provided by Te Marae Ora show that Rarotonga recorded 10 new cases on Monday, while Aitutaki recorded zero.

“We can be cautiously optimistic that now we have passed the peak of infections on Rarotonga and Aitutaki, and we are managing it in the Pa Enua, and as travel continues to resume, that there will be better days ahead,” Brown told parliament on Monday

“Last year we saw the light at the end of the tunnel – now we are emerging out of the tunnel into the brightness of a new day.”

There was one further case in Atiu, and five new cases in Mauke. In total, there have been 4810 cases in Rarotonga, 573 in Aitutaki, 167 in Atiu, 35 in Mauke, three in Penrhyn and one in Mitiaro.

“While no one will know when we will be done with Covid, as we look around at all that we have accomplished and the progress we have made, we can see that our journey has been, and continues to be a successful one against the enormous challenges that were before us,” Brown said.

 There are 84 active Covid-19 in the Cook Islands.