From this afternoon Kiribati, which was Covid-free until just days ago, is going into lockdown, with the Covid-19 virus now in the community.
Earlier this week 36 people on a flight from Fiji - the first such flight into the country in months - were found to be infected.
They are in isolation but now the government has confirmed there are four cases outside of quarantine.
For this reason early this morning it instigated its alert level 3 and what we understand is a four day lockdown, which will become effective from 3pm on today - 22 January 2022.
Under the lockdown there will be a 24 hour curfew.
The Kiribati Parliament Photo: Lisa Williams
All essential service providers - that is wholesale and retail food providers - will remain open to the public from 6am to 2pm.
All government offices are closed and staff will work remotely, from home.
This does not apply to essential and emergency services such as hospitals, police, banking, the Kiribati Port Authority, Kiribati Oil Company and gas stations, key government ministries and agencies such as broadcasting.
People must stay at home unless they are essential workers or wanting to access emergency services.
They can also leave their homes to buy essential foods, but this will be zoned to limit movement within neighbourhoods, and can only happen between 6am to 2pm.
Public transportation services will cease while all kava bars, liquor bars, and nightclubs will be closed.