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The Cook Islands have reported no cases of Covid-19 and are eager for tourism to restart. Photo / Getty Images
By RNZ
New Zealand officials will arrive in the Cook Islands today as part of the ongoing work to investigate a possible travel bubble.
While reluctant to set a deadline, this week Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said there could be a bubble a couple of weeks after officials gave the green light.
The Cook Islands have reported no cases of Covid-19 and are eager for tourism to restart.
The minister in charge of the COVID-19 response, Chris Hipkins, said officials would be in the Cook Islands for about a week.
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“They will look at what the testing capabilities are in the Cook Islands in case they need to test there and they will look at the border defenses.”
Hipkins said he would also focus on the maritime border.
“Potentially there is a lot of maritime traffic through the Cook Islands, so they will be looking at all of those kinds of things.”
Hipkins said there will also be reciprocal work from Cook Islands officials, who are already in New Zealand.
“[They] We will be watching closely and informing the cooks about the protections we have, keeping in mind that we want to do everything we can, the moment the trip reopens with the cooks to prevent Covid from reaching New Zealand there . . “
New Zealand officials would remain in isolation for two weeks after their visit, but would continue to work to get their trip information out as soon as possible, Hipkins said.
– RNZ
