The Vanuatu Government wants to know who allowed a flight carrying passengers to arrive in Port Vila from New Caledonia last Friday.
Photo: RNZ
There were 18 ni-Vanuatu being repatriated on the flight and two tested positive for Covid-19 after arrival on 22 October. The went into isolation at the Ramada Hotel in Port Villa.
The Prime Minister's public relations officer Fred Vurobaravu said the Vanuatu government is investigating why the passengers were permitted to arrive, given New Caledonia is a high risk country.
Vanuatu's Director of Foreign Affairs Yvon Basil said the Air Vanuatu flight was supposed to only carry cargo.
Under the current state of emergency in Vanuatu only the Director of National Disaster Management Office has the power to authorise incoming flights and ships.
Vanuatu is yet to record a locally acquired community case of Covid-19. However RNZ's correspondent said there were only 12 isolation beds available in Port Vila.
The Covid-19 National Task Force was to test all 18 passengers who arrived on the flight from the French Territory, as well as all individuals who came into close contact with the two ni-Vanuatu.
Meanwhile Radio Vanuatu reported that all 18 passengers on the flight were tested in Noumea and cleared before travel to Vanuatu, but the two cases were confirmed during normal border control testing in Vila.
Ministries closed in Vila
The gates to all Vanuatu's ministries have been locked in Port Vila, as speculation mounts that the capital may soon go into lockdown.
Vurobaravu said the country's popular annual Fest'Napuan music festival, scheduled for this week in Vila, would be cancelled if any community case is confirmed.