COVID-19: Pacific Community Updates

This page will be regularly updated as new information is received 


The COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease 2019) outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. Globally, nations are taking actions to reduce and control the spread of the virus. 

For information on global efforts to manage this outbreak, visit the WHO website for current situation reports on COVID-19: (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports)

Current Status in the Pacific

22 countries (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pitcairn Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna) in the PICTs have reported cases and deaths.

For more details and data, please consult the below map and charts.

For further information on specific countries in the Pacific contact the respective government authorities. 

Cumulated number of cases of Covid-19

 
 
 

(*) This includes all cases reported (imported/border cases and locally acquired cases) with a reporting date.

You can print or download the map in PNG, JPEG and PDF format by clicking on the hamburger menu ☰ on the top right corner

COVID-19 Recent Cases (table)

Pacific Island Countries and territoriesCumulated number of cases of COVID-19Cumulated number of deaths due to COVID-19
ASAmerican Samoa8,35034
CKCook Islands7,9362
FJFiji69,117885
FMMicronesia (Federated States of)31,76462
GUGuam63,956419
KIKiribati5,08524
MHMarshall Islands16,24517
MPNorthern Mariana Islands14,38546
NCNew Caledonia80,320314
NRNauru5,4851
NUNiue1,0590
PFFrench Polynesia79,620652
PGPapua New Guinea46,842670
PNPitcairn40
PWPalau6,27910
SBSolomon Islands25,945199
TKTokelau2420
TOTonga16,95512
TVTuvalu3,2340
VUVanuatu12,02914
WFWallis and Futuna3,83110
WSSamoa17,00631
Total515,6893,402
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Due to the evolving nature of COVID-19 testing, vaccination and reporting strategies across the pacific region, the data reported might not reflect the true situation in a number of countries.
Disclaimer: All data are subject to change, as more information become available.

Other COVID-19 news and updates

Resources available for health-care workers

More COVID-19 Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Resources are available on SPC's Public Health website.


Regional Challenges

COVID-19 represents a significant challenge for the region. The Pacific Community (SPC), as the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) lead in public health, has taken all necessary measures to help address the spread of COVID-19. This includes the adoption of a response framework aimed at supporting staff well-being and business continuity while supporting an efficient regional response to the pandemic.

Which are the main risk areas for PICTs?

  • In most of the PICTs, access to quality health services is limited, due to a lack of infrastructure, equipment, and qualified personnel. In the current situation, this can pose a problem of access to care if the number of infected people increases.
  • Most PICTs do not have the needed laboratory equipment to analyse the tests on site, which creates difficulties in identifying cases. The test samples have to be sent to other countries for analysis.
  • Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are frequented by tourists. This represents a risk due to the movement of people to and from PICTs (although restrictive measures have been put in place); and also a risk for the local economies.

Pacific Community Response 

 

What is SPC doing to help its member countries and territories deal with the current COVID-19 pandemic?

SPC is supporting PICTs preparedness and their responses to COVID-19 through public health surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication, disaster management, humanitarian response, statistics, educational assessment, data custodianship and GIS mapping.

  • SPC is part of the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway on COVID-19 (PHP-C), providing regional leadership, direction and coordination to enable the provision of medical and humanitarian assistance from regional and international organisations in a timely, safe, effective and equitable manner. 
  • SPC is part of the World Health Organization (WHO)-led multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT).
  • Along with its partners, SPC also implements all relevant preparedness activities to help its members manage the risks associated with the virus including;
    • The deployment of staff to do in-country training on COVID-19 case identification, contact tracing, case investigation, outbreak management;
    • The deployment of staff to do in-country assessment and training on infection control.
    • Provision of funding for laboratory sample shipment and testing, in order to help its members identify potential cases and respond accordingly.
    • Coordination of the procurement process for point-of-care test (BD Veritor System) to allow in-country confirmation of influenza cases, thereby facilitating proper case management.
  • SPC is the focal point of the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN). PPHSN includes six services to prevent and respond to epidemics. These include coordination of laboratory services, surveillance systems, infection control, alert and communication, knowledge exchange and capacity building. 
  • SPC continues to coordinate the implementation of the Strengthening Health Interventions in the Pacific (SHIP) programme, to develop and strengthen competencies in epidemiology, surveillance, outbreak investigation and management, risk communication and reporting.

What is SPC doing to protect its staff?

  • SPC has activated a Security Management Group, in order to assess potential impacts and consequences of COVID-19 in SPC premises, prepare and respond appropriately to mitigate these risks, and communicate timely and helpful information to all staff of the organization and its members.
  • SPC has implemented a wide range of measures to limit the spread of the virus, such as limiting non-essential travel and postponing events and meetings and offering work from home options.
  • Bi-weekly staff communication with health and travel advisories are circulated directly to staff members (in English and French language) and made available online.

FAQ's, Resources & Tips

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Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)
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World Health Organization (WHO)
COVID-19
Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP)
Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN)
Surveillance
Health
World Health Organization (WHO)