Taskforce implements new pre-travel arrangements in Brisbane
REPUBLIC OF NAURU
Government Information Office
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Thursday, 6 January, 2022
Taskforce implements new
pre-travel arrangements in Brisbane
New pre-travel "COVID Safe
Accommodation" arrangements are in place in Brisbane for passengers
travelling to Nauru on commercial flights, effective
immediately.
The basic requirement is for all
travellers to Nauru from Brisbane enter and remain in managed safe
accommodation in Brisbane, three days before travel.
The Nauru COVID-19 Taskforce says
this arrangement is primarily for the regular scheduled Nauru
Airlines ON002 flights. The first flight will be Friday 7
January.
This interim measure is put in
place due to the rapid surging cases and community
transmission of coronavirus in Brisbane and across Australia and
many other countries. It may continue to March or as required.
The primary aim of the measure is
to reduce the risk of travellers to Nauru, being exposed to
coronavirus in the community in the days immediately prior to
travel to Nauru.
Failure to comply will result in
the passenger being denied flight check-in and travel to Nauru.
It is considered that the Nauru
population immunity to coronavirus is at a level that still poses
an unacceptable risk of high case numbers.
"If coronavirus was to spread into
Nauru at this time, there is potential that many people would get
very sick, overwhelming our health services and there is too much
uncertainty about the risk of significant numbers of people dying,"
the Taskforce said.
Whilst Nauru has achieved high (97
per cent) rates of vaccination in the eligible adult population, 18
years and older, this represents only 60 per cent total population
vaccination coverage. Consequently, 40 per cent of the population
is at risk.
Vaccination of persons 12 years and
above will result in total population vaccination coverage of above
80 per cent.
While the majority of adults were
vaccinated five or more months ago, evidence of reduced immunity
after a long period suggests these adults may also now be at risk
from a combination of factors.
The Taskforce has determined
vaccination targets expected to give the Nauru population
sufficient immunity and protection, including booster shots, may be
reached by the end of March 2022.
It is expected that a COVID
vaccination campaign for children aged between 12 years and 18
years will be delivered in late January along with or followed by a
booster campaign for all adults.
The safe accommodation will be
arranged by the Nauru Taskforce near Brisbane Airport. Three meals
a day will be provided.
Where possible, accommodation will
be arranged so that passengers travelling to Nauru will be in a
common/designated area within the Hotel and the space will not be
shared with any other guests or entry by visitors.
All travellers from outside
Brisbane should arrive in Brisbane three days prior to travel so
they may enter the safe accommodation. Those travelling from
outside Queensland need to ensure they satisfy any Queensland
Government requirements.
Depending on Australian and
Queensland government requirements, international transit
passengers may be required to enter Queensland Government Hotel
Quarantine facilities, which if undertaken for the three days prior
to travel to Nauru, will also satisfy Nauru's interim entry
requirements.
However, if it is not a requirement
of Australian or Queensland governments, it is still a requirement
of Nauru and will be arranged by the Taskforce.
Airport check-in processes will
include a COVID test undertaken prior to or as part of the check-in
process.
All passengers are requested to
take precautions to minimise their risk of exposure during the few
hours they will be moving through Brisbane Airport to board the
flight to Nauru. This includes individuals practising physical
distancing, wearing of masks, and maintaining hand hygiene.
It is accepted that this measure is
not absolute and will not create a 'sterile' environment for
passengers travelling to Nauru but is one component of a suite of
measures that combined, will reduce risk of virus arriving on
Nauru's border.
The risk still exists and so
quarantine and testing procedures on arrival into Nauru will
continue as they have been.
The Nauru Taskforce does not have
the authority to quarantine any person in Australia or to enforce
these requirements. Passengers are requested to voluntarily enter
the Safe Accommodation and to voluntarily comply with the
requirements.
Failure to enter the Safe
Accommodation or to satisfy the requirements requested prior to
travel to Nauru, will result in denied check-in and travel to
Nauru.