10 Mar 2022

Niue records first Covid-19 case

6:14 am on 10 March 2022

Niue's premier Dalton Tagelagi has announced the country's first case of Covid 19.

The individual is one of 26 passengers currently in MIQ on the island having arrived on a flight from New Zealand on Monday local time.

Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi

Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi Photo: RNZ Pacific / Jamie Tahana

Tagelagi assured the people of Niue that Health officials and the government have been preparing for this eventuality.

"The case is currently in quarantine and will be monitored closely by the health officials. The case is double vaccinated and boosted and had returned a negative PCR test and RATS prior to boarding the flight in Auckland, New Zealand," Dalton Tagelagi said.

Tagelagi called for calm and urged Niueans to work together, remain vigilant and adhere to all Covid-19 health guidelines.

"Our extremely high vaccination rate is another factor in our favour as it slows the spread of transmission and also reduces the health impacts," he said.

With an estimated population of under 2000 people Niue was one of the first parts of the world to fully vaccinate close to 100 percent of its eligible adult population.

So far none of the other 25 passengers who were aboard the same flight have tested positive for Covid-19 and Dalton Tagelagi said they would not be elevating the country's blue Covid-19 alert level status.

"As each new piece of information is gathered and confirmed we will be keeping you all as up to date as possible. All officials that are deemed to have come in close contact with the case are currently in isolation and will be closely monitored and tested."

Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi

Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi Photo: BCN