EMNI - 13 May 2022

Novavax vaccine is now locally available
The Novavax vaccine is currently available at NIHRACS for 1st vaccine dose and to contact NIHRACS on 22091 for an appointment. Visitor information for travel to the island

Before travelling to island, we urge all visitors to carefully consider what your health needs may be as there is community transmission of COVID-19 on Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is a small and remote community. The Norfolk Island Health and Aged Care Service (NIHRACS) is a small facility with limited services and without an Intensive Care Unit.If you arrive on Norfolk Island and present with COVID-19 or discover that you are a close contact, you are required to isolate at your accommodation until you return a negative test and are cleared for release. Extended accommodation expenses are at guests’ own expense. You cannot fly back to Australia until you are released from isolation and medically cleared.

Those who are at risk of serious illness if they contract COVID-19 (including older people and those with a range of underlying health conditions) should reconsider their travel to Norfolk Island at this time, given the local spread of COVID on island. More information about who is most at risk of contracting COVID can be found online at Health Direct http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19...

Returning a negative PCR or RAT test is a good indicator but, it is not foolproof - if you feel unwell, please do not travel and consider postponing your holiday on Norfolk Island for a future date

.Mandatory Reporting of Positive Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT)
If you are doing a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at home, it is important that you follow the testing instructions carefully to ensure that you receive an accurate result. Testing kits can vary significantly between brands. If you test positive for COVID, you are required to report this to the NIHRACS, phone 22091.Under the extension of the State of Emergency (Recovery) there remain three mandatory directions. These are that you must follow a direction from NIHRACS or Norfolk Island Police associated with management of COVID-19 and you must report a positive test (PCR or RAT) to NIHRACS.

Self-responsibility is now the main way that you protect yourself, your family, or your business from the disease. This means that you take whatever measures personally to protect yourself (such as wearing a mask, frequent handwashing, avoiding congested indoor venues etc.) according to your own assessment of risk.

Key points of contact

Incident Controller: Sergeant John Giles, email IO-Norfolk-Island@afp.gov.au, phone +672 3 22222

NIHRACS: Phone +672 3 22091 for all health-related enquiries

NIRC Website: www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/covid-19-advice-norfolk-island

EMNI Facebook: @emergencymanagementnorfolkisland