Two passengers who arrived to Vanuatu on a flight from New Caledonia on 22 October 2021 and were confirmed to have active COVID-19 infections are now both fully recovered. One person was released from the isolation ward at Vila Central Hospital on 26 November after receiving medical clearance. The second person remained in isolation for additional medical assessment but has now been classified as recovered from COVID-19 and has received medical clearance. The additional assessments confirmed that there is no longer active virus in their body and therefore they pose no risk of COVID-19 infection to anyone else. This person is therefore also discharged from isolation and can now safely join their family and community.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was first declared by WHO in March 2021, there have been a total of just five active cases of COVID-19 imported into Vanuatu. All of these cases have been successfully managed in quarantine and isolation, proving that our prevention and containment measures are working. To date there have been no COVID-19 cases detected in the community in Vanuatu and no evidence of community transmission.

Due to the recovery of this case, Efate and Offshore Islands now return to Alert Level 0 (Low risk) due to no active cases. The whole of Vanuatu is therefore now at Alert Level 0.

The Ministry of Health continues to emphasise the importance of vaccination to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Currently, over 57% of our adult population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and over 27% of adults have received two doses and are fully vaccinated.

As we progress towards our vaccination targets of at least 90% of adults protected with one dose and at least 70% of adults protected with two doses of COVID-19 vaccine nationwide by 20 March 2022, it is important that momentum is maintained. There is no better time to get vaccinated than now, as we continue to work towards the safe re-opening of our borders to international travellers in 2022. Together, we can ensure economic recovery whilst protecting the health of everyone throughout the country.

For official information, please continue to refer to the Ministry of Health website at www.covid19.gov.vu, or the Health Promotions Vanuatu Facebook page, or dial the 119 Health Information Hotline.