22 June 2022
IOT COVID-19 SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE
Update on local COVID outbreak and current interim measures for Christmas and Cocos Islands
Active community transmission of COVID continues across the IOT, with significant numbers of new cases being recorded each day on both Christmas Island (CI) and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI). There are more than 150 active cases across the IOT today.
In response to this escalating community spread, and based on expert health advice on the local situation, the IOT COVID-19 subcommittee has put in place a range of interim measures on both CI and CKI. These tailored measures, which will remain in place until midnight on Monday, 27 June 2022, are designed to slow the rate of community transmission and protect the delivery of essential services to residents and visitors, while still allowing businesses to continue operating.
Interim measures:
On CI:
Restaurants must provide takeaway service only
In pubs, staff and patrons must wear masks, only seated service (drinks only, no food) is allowed and no additional activities (eg, karaoke) will be permitted
The mosque and church can operate only with people wearing masks, no physical contact, provision of hygiene stations and capacity limits in place
The gym will be closed.
On CKI:
food and beverage service will be takeaway only
the mosque will be closed
the ferry will be limited to essential travel only (with the exception of tourists travelling to Direction Island).
Visitors should minimise contact with residents and wear masks unless physically distanced.
People who are able to work from home are strongly encouraged to do so. Everyone should limit unnecessary movements.
These measures will be reviewed again on Monday 27 June and adjusted as required, based on case numbers.
As cases continue to be identified, only high-risk public exposure sites will be listed. The health service will direct people for testing as required during contact tracing. Community members and visitors are asked to regularly check the listed public exposure sites, monitor for symptoms and test.
If you are informed that you are a close contact – by either the health service or a confirmed positive case to whom you have been exposed – you are required to isolate in accordance with the IOT-specific guidelines.
These guidelines are available online here:
It is critical that each and every one of you continues to follow the local COVID-19 requirements and your personal protective measures like hand hygiene, mask wearing and physical distancing.
We understand that people may be looking at other mainland locations which are further along in their COVID-19 response and operating under different arrangements now – but as we have advised previously, expert public health advice confirms that the IOT is at a much earlier stage in its response. Our settings will continue to be designed for the local situation, the capacity of our health services and the protection of our communities.
Please remember the risks of COVID-19 to the most vulnerable in our community – the elderly, the immunocompromised, those with chronic illnesses and those unable to be vaccinated – we need to continue to work together to keep everyone safe – and now more than ever, we cannot afford complacency or unchecked community transmission.
Anyone who is unwell with symptoms needs to stay home and contact the health service for assessment and further testing as required, even if you have returned a negative test at home. A single negative RAT does not exclude COVID-19, particularly when you are experiencing symptoms. These include any cold and flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting/diarrhoea or loss of taste/smell.
