Health
Most stringent border controls set in place overnight
Wednesday 25 March 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Health
The Government has all but closed the Cook Islands border, effective from midnight tonight, Tuesday.
Go home, stay home
Tuesday 24 March 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Health
At 6pm tomorrow, Cook Islands moves to Code Yellow. The nation will be just one step away from a state of emergency, as Parliament gives health authorities sweeping new powers.
Three “persons of interest” in precautionary quarantine and isolation
Monday 23 March 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Health
Three persons of interest are being actively monitored by Public Health officials: one is in hospital, two are in supervised quarantine. Te Marae Ora is implementing COVID-19 protocols while awaiting test results.
Rarotonga Hospital's emergency department moves to Tupapa
Monday 23 March 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Health
The hospital needs to be prepared to receive Covid-19 patients – that’s the urgent message from Te Marae Ora today as emergency care shifts from the hospital to Tupapa Clinic and new hospital visiting rules take immediate effect.
Teen gets out of Raro – only to be trapped in Auckland airport
Monday 23 March 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Health
The 19-year-old au pair who was stranded in Rarotonga this weekend is now trapped on her own in Auckland International Airport transit. And Immigration NZ won’t even answer the phone. 'It's like a prison,' she says.
Working out is no sweat with Covid-19 measures
Friday 20 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health
Team sports competitions on the island may have been cancelled, but gyms throughout the country continue their exercise regimes.
Dengue patient tells of 'outstanding' hospital help
Thursday 19 March 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Health
Since the dengue type-1 virus was declared an outbreak a year ago, the Cook Islands has recorded a total of 195 dengue cases.
Six Covid-19 tests come back negative
Wednesday 18 March 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Health
The first six travellers tested for Covid-19 in Cook Islands have all been cleared, in a rare piece of good news.
Schools, employers insist on quarantine
Tuesday 17 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health
Increasing numbers of workers are quarantining themselves on their return from overseas travel, at the request of their employers.
'This virus is an alien, it doesn't know borders'
Tuesday 17 March 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Health
What will save Cook Islands from the worst impact of the coronavirus sweeping the world in not panic-shopping for toilet paper and security guards on street corners.
COVID-19 update
Monday 16 March 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Health
Simple basic health practices such as washing hands and not to greet people with a kiss or a hug, are important advice to follow from the Ministry of Health to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Mamas feel the Covid-19 fear and fly anyway
Saturday 14 March 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Health
Rather than feel fearful about what could happen with the global spread of Covid-19 coronavirus, a group of 60 netball-mad mamas from Rarotonga decided to have faith head off to the Golden Oldies Netball Festival in Hawaii yesterday.
Cooks creates 'island fortress'
Friday 13 March 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Health
Health authorities have send six people’s swabs to New Zealand for coronavirus testing. The results are expected within a week.
New Zealand pathologist arrives for autopsy
Thursday 12 March 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health
A pathologist arrived yesterday to perform an autopsy on the body of an 18-year-old who died in unexplained circumstances late month.
Phone consultation encouraged as Health streamlines its services
Thursday 12 March 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Health
Patients are being encouraged to do phone consultations with medical practitioners as the Health ministry streamlines its services to battle the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
Pacific unites to stop coronavirus spread
Wednesday 11 March 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Health
New Zealand acting High Commissioner to Cook Islands Rachel Bennett has given reassurances that New Zealand is partnering with Cook Islands and countries in the wider Pacific to ensure they are prepared for and able to respond to coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19).
1000 cruise tourists told to wash hands
Tuesday 10 March 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Health
Health officials say they’ve done a thorough risk assessment of the 1000-passenger cruise ship Maasdam, ahead of its arrival at Rarotonga tomorrow.
Show respect for those in quarantine for Covid-19 checks
Monday 9 March 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Health
The Secretary of Health has called on the community to show their humanity for those in quarantine to determine whether they have Covid-19.
Covid-19: The facts
Saturday 7 March 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Health
Amid some of the speculation and misinformation on social media, Cook Islands News has undertaken to provide practical and evidence-based information. Here are some straight questions and some straight answers from the health ministry, Te Marae Ora.
Second Virgin breach of Covid-19 travel ban
Saturday 7 March 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Health
A third person has entered “voluntary self-quarantine” on Rarotonga after arriving in Cook Islands from one of the countries listed in the coronavirus-related travel ban.