Five people have been hospitalised with Covid-19 as of January 23, says Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health.

There are 10 active cases reported in Rarotonga including three who are hospitalised. The remaining two hospitalised cases are from Aitutaki.

There is only one active case in Atiu.

According to Te Marae Ora, Rarotonga had so far recorded 85 reinfections, 11 reinfections were recorded in Atiu, seven in Aitutaki and four in Mauke.

Health secretary Bob Williams had earlier said medical staff in the Pa Enua are assisted by staff from Rarotonga through tele-health with weekly meetings and emergency support to deal with Covid cases on the islands.

And if necessary TMO will send a team across, he had said.

Te Marae Ora has also instructed staff to screen for high risk populations.

Williams also stated the ministry will be sending oral antivirals (Paxlovid) which can prevent severe infection if taken within five days from onset of symptoms.

The ministry provides training and support for triaging of cases and on eligibility of oral antivirals.

Meanwhile, Williams said since January 16, the average number of people testing for Covid-19 on a daily basis was 50.

On Wednesday, he said for the past four days TMO has had zero tested positive cases.

However yesterday Te Marae Ora recorded two positive cases from the average of 50 tested daily. 

Williams says the numbers are slowly coming down.