A first case of the new coronavirus was detected today in the Cook Islands, a Pacific archipelago of 17,000 people that has so far survived the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Mark Brown said.
A 10-year-old boy was tested positive for the new coronavirus while in quarantine with his family after their return from abroad.
The Cook Islands were completely isolated from the rest of the world when the new coronavirus pandemic broke out. However, their nationals who have been trapped abroad can return to their homeland with some rare special flights from New Zealand. They are required to remain in quarantine for ten days upon arrival and undergo several tests.
This archipelago is one of the countries in the world where the rate of vaccination against COVID-19 is among the highest: 96% of the population over the age of 12 have been vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine against the disease caused by new coronavirus.
The Cook Islands intend to reopen their quarantine-free border in New Zealand from 14 January.
Source: AMPE
