The Bougainville caretaker government has further extended the state of emergency put in place to combat the spread of Covid-19.
The state of emergency was to finish yesterday but cabinet ministers agreed to extend it for another 21 days, which will take it beyond the end of the election on September 1st.
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The state of emergency includes restrictions on movement and requirements for social distancing, despite the election that is now underway.
Meanwhile the emergency controller, Francis Tokura, on Friday announced that all people wanting to travel to Bougainville will need to obtain medical clearance before departing.
Mr Tokura said travellers will also undergo a mandatory medical examination when they arrive in Bougainville.
A week ago Bougainville registered its first positive Covid-19 case when an infected student returned from the mainland.