Kiribati suspends repatriations to deal with Covid-19 cases

06:01 am on 25 May 2021

The Kiribati government has suspended its repatriation program to deal with cases of Covid-19 aboard a fishing carrier vessel anchored off of Tarawa.

Health minister Tinte Itinteang says initially two fishermen had tested positive for Covid-19. One of them was iKiribati and the other a foreigner.

Dr Itinteang says they also identified a second iKiribati fisherman who may have previously had the virus but has since recovered.

He said the infected persons are being quarantined on board the carrier vessel for 14 days.

Tinte Itinteang who is the chair of the Kiribati repatriation and response taskforces joins me now along with fisheries minister Ribanataake Tiwau.

Mauri Dr Itinteang so just bring us up to date what is the situation at the moment?

Listen

Left to right Kiribati fisheries minister Ribanataake Tiwau and Kiribati health minister Tinte Itinteang who are part of the country's Covid-19 Response Taskforce. Photo: Supplied/Kiribati Government