Close to 30 unvaccinated individuals have arrived into the country since the border reopening on Thursday last week.

Since last Friday, January 14, a total of 27 individuals, a mixture of Cook Islanders and children of work permit holders, have arrived in the country who are either unvaccinated or too young to be vaccinated.

They are going through managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) at The Edgewater Resort and Spa.

According to Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health, all the unvaccinated arrivals took their Day 0 tests and “all have returned negative test results for Covid-19”.

“They will all be tested again on their respective Day 5, and then, if in MIQ (Managed Isolation Quarantine), on Day 9.”

A Te Marae Ora spokesperson yesterday said all those who took the Covid test on Day 5 returned negative test results.

According to Te Marae Ora, all tourists entering the country must be vaccinated – there will be no exemptions at all.

The exemptions will only apply to Cook Islanders and Immigration permit holders, including work permit holders, arriving to Rarotonga.

The two exceptions to the vaccination requirement for the permit holders for work or residence are firstly for children aged under 12 and secondly for those aged over 12 who cannot be vaccinated because of a medical exemption.

Those permitted entry under an exemption will be subject to certain additional public health controls upon their arrival to the Cook Islands, for example, they will be required to self-isolate at home for five days and undertake Covid tests.

Cook Islanders and Cook Islands permanent residents can enter the country regardless of their vaccination status, however those who are unvaccinated will be subject to certain additional public health controls upon arrival in the country.

For example, travellers aged 12 and over in this category who are not vaccinated and do not have a medical exemption must undergo 10 days in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) at their own cost and undertake three tests during that time.

If a minor (aged 12 - 17) in this group is travelling unaccompanied, a caregiver / guardian will have to enter quarantine with them, and that cost will also need to be paid for.

Cook Islanders and Cook Islands permanent residents who have a medical exemption from vaccination must isolate at home for five days upon arrival and undertake two tests during that time.

Children aged under 12 travelling with vaccinated adults (or adults exempt from vaccination) or travelling unaccompanied, must isolate at home for five days upon arrival, and undertake two tests.

To avoid doubt, the following are not valid reasons for granting a medical exemption for a person: (a) the person has had a negative experience with other vaccines: (b) the person is disabled: (c) the person is pregnant.

The charges for MIQ in a standard room for 10 days at The Edgewater Resort are: $2142 for the first person, $825 for an additional adult, $500 for each child aged 3 or over and less than 13 years and $250 for each child aged under 3 years.

The charges for managed quarantine in a villa are: $3350 for the first person, $790 for each additional adult, $500 for each child aged 3 or over and less than 13 years; and $250 for each child aged under 3 years.