The Cook Islands Opposition has hit out at the government's decision to remove compulsory quarantine for incoming passengers.
Cook Islands MP Selina Napa Photo: supplied
The opposition condemned the move, saying it lacked logic and didn't bring any benefit to the people of the Cook Islands who lived at home.
Opposition Health spokesperson and Titikaveka MP Selina Napa said she was aware the ministry of health, Te Marae Ora, opposed abolishing quarantine based on the risk it presented.
Napa claimed questions sent to the ministry had been been referred on to the Office of the Prime Minister.
She said this showed the ministry had distanced itself from an "irrational decision" led by Prime Minister Mark Brown.
In a statement she said, "opposition to cabinet's decision from TMO and the Puna sends a clear signal - we cannot cope with any outbreak, we cannot Covid test and get results straight away…this is a process that takes at least a week."
She said the government had a duty to safeguard the public and keep everyone informed.
"He [Mark Brown] needs to tell our people exactly what is the response plan when a positive case is registered here, how will we know, what are we the public expected to do, can the PM assure us all that we have the capability to cope with any outbreak?
"We are removing quarantine on the excuse that things seem to be okay in New Zealand, that's being foolish, it wasn't that long ago there were community outbreaks there, one which claimed the life of Cook Islands icon Dr Joe Williams. The last community case in New Zealand was nine days ago. Why has the PM and his five ministers chosen to put the people of this country at such huge unnecessary risk?"
Napa pointed out the Cook Islands was currently Covid-free.
"...but we are still expected to quarantine in New Zealand when we travel there, New Zealand has Covid but incoming passengers from there no longer have to quarantine. Does cabinet think that somehow the people of the Cook Islands, where half the population suffer from some type of NCD [Non-Communicable Disease], are Covid-proof?"
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News