Cook Islands has recorded its second Covid-19-related death, Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health announced yesterday.

Secretary of Health Bob Williams confirmed on Thursday that an 82-year-old female suddenly died on the island of Mauke.

“She returned back to Mauke on January 2, 2023, from Australia with her medications due to other personal health issues. She was fully vaccinated in Australia,” Williams said in a statement.

This was her second infection for she tested positive for Covid before returning back to Mauke.

“On January 5, 2023, she was symptomatic and tested positive for Covid with (RAT test) on Mauke. She completed her self-isolation yesterday,” Williams said.

“All other family members living with the deceased remained negative.”

The death is treated as a Covid-related death as per the World Health Organization guidelines; any death within 28 days of testing positive is to be treated as Covid-related death.

“Te Marae Ora is working with the family on Mauke for her arrangements and our sincere condolences to the family and the people of Mauke,” Williams said. 

This is the second death in the Cook Islands that has been classed as a Covid-19- related death.

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On April 22, 2022, Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed a 63-year-old woman with underlying health conditions died enroute to the hospital on the island of Aitutaki.

The woman had had all three anti-Covid vaccinations, but also had several serious underlying health conditions. She was swabbed for PCR testing, returning a positive result that confirmed a recent Covid-19 infection.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 6926 cases of Covid-19 in the Cook Islands, of which 99 are still active. Of the 99 active cases, there are 70 in Rarotonga, nine in Aitutaki, 12 in Atiu, seven in Mitiaro and one in Mauke.

Te Marae Ora confirmed this week that the new variant of Covid-19, XBB1, had arrived in the Cook Islands.

Williams earlier said: “New variants are emerging each day globally, with the rapid changes of the virus our public health measures along with vaccination are our best defence mechanisms to minimise community transmission and also severity of illness resulting in hospitalisation or death.”

Last week, TMO announced that it had reintroduced compulsory mask-wearing and RAT testing for those entering health facilities. It also encouraged mask-wearing in enclosed spaces.

Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health also has confirmed supply for 100 prescriptions for Paxlovid, an anti-viral medication used to combat Covid-19, and had “plans to order when we are down to 70 prescriptions on hand”.