To stay up to date with COVID-19 information for Norfolk Island, visit this page regularly and/or follow the Emergency Management Norfolk Island Facebook page.
State of Emergency
The Norfolk Island COVID-19 Recovery Operations Plan will remain in place during the state of emergency.
Travelling to Norfolk Island
All visitors and travellers to Norfolk Island MUST apply for a NORFOLK ISLAND TRAVEL PASS.
You will find more information about travelling and applying for the Travel Pass here.
Updated Thursday 17 June 2021
Removal of travel restriction from June 24th for the Greater Melbourne to the island.
EMT met today and reviewed the current restriction for travellers from the Greater Melbourne area to the island. It appears that the situation in Victoria is under control and new cases that are arising are from known contacts already in isolation. Based upon this information it has been decided to not extend the current travel restriction for travellers from the Greater Melbourne area. Therefore from Thursday June 24th travellers from the Greater Melbourne area will be allowed to travel to the island without restriction.
EMT is continuing to monitor the situation in Melbourne and the cases reported in Sydney and Queensland. Restrictions may be introduced should the risk increase associated with travel from these areas.
It is a current requirement under the emergency directions that anyone travelling to the island must check public health information regarding emerging public exposure sites in their state or territory and follow the recommendations. This may mean postponing travel to the island or going into isolation on the island should a public exposure site be listed after you have arrived on the island.
Maintaining Customer COVID registers
It remains important that the customer registers are maintained. This is the primary source of contact tracing information on the island and while cases continue to occur on the mainland could be required at any time to enable local tracing to be undertaken.
For any questions about the COVID-19 response on Norfolk Island, please visit the Norfolk Island Regional Council website: http://www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/covid-19-advice-norfolk-island in the first instance or contact Sergeant Glenn Elder, IMT Incident Controller at IO-Norfolk-Island [at] afp.gov.au or +6723 22222.
17 June 2021
EMT
Please read more information here.
Updated Thursday 3 June 2021
Travel restrictions to Norfolk Island from Greater Melbourne until June 24th, 2021.
EMT has met this morning to discuss the current outbreak in Victoria.
Due to the high number of exposure sites and the seeding risk associated with this variant of the virus it has been decided to introduce a travel restriction to the island for people from the Greater Melbourne area.
Travellers from the Greater Melbourne area will not be granted an entry permit to the island from midnight tonight (June 3rd, 2021) until June 24th ,2021. The restriction will be reviewed on the 17th of June. Returning residents who have been in the Greater Melbourne area in the last 14 days will be granted an Entry Pass but will be required to spend 14 days in self-isolation on the island. The travel restriction does not extend to regional Victoria or persons who have transited through Melbourne airport on the way to the island. Transit means that you have not left the airport precinct and have spent 24 hours or less in the precinct area.
This requirement is in addition to the requirement for travellers to check currently listed public exposure sites and isolate at home or their accommodation and contact NIHRACS for further advice. With the current Victorian outbreak exposure sites in southern NSW have been listed in the last few days. It is important that travellers to the island check these NSW exposure sites.
It is the traveller’s responsibility to monitor the list of public exposure sites, and these are constantly being updated during the outbreak. The Queensland Health site https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing#VIC has the current Victorian and NSW sites.
If you have been required to self-isolate on the island you will be allowed to leave the island to travel back home but will need to contact the Incident Controller to plan for your return travel.
For any questions about the COVID-19 response on Norfolk Island, please visit the Norfolk Island Regional Council website: http://www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/covid-19-advice-norfolk-island in the first instance or contact Sergeant Glenn Elder, IMT Incident Controller at IO-Norfolk-Island [at] afp.gov.au or +6723 22222.
3 June 2021
EMT
Updated Friday 28 2021
Travelling to Norfolk Island from Victoria- Melbourne Northern Suburbs outbreak.
The Victorian Government has announced today a seven-day lockdown to apply from 11:59pm, Thursday 27 May until 11:59pm Thursday 3 June to apply to the entire state of Victoria. This means that no travellers from Victoria will be allowed to travel to the island from midnight tonight.
Any travellers in transit or currently on the island from Victoria or people who have been in Victoria in the last fourteen days will be required to contact NIHRACS and self-isolate at home or in their accommodation if they have been in any of the listed public exposure sites. Anyone who has been in Victoria in the last fourteen days but has not been to any of the listed public exposure sites will need to monitor themselves for symptoms. Should they have even the slightest symptoms they should contact NIHRACS to be tested.
If you have been required to self-isolate on the island you will be allowed to leave the island to travel back home but will need to contact the Incident Controller to make arrangements for your return travel.
It is the traveller’s responsibility to monitor the list of public exposure sites, and these are constantly being updated during the outbreak. The Queensland Health site https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/contact-tracing#VIC has the current Victorian sites.
For any questions about the COVID-19 response on Norfolk Island, please visit the Norfolk Island Regional Council website: http://www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/covid-19-advice-norfolk-island in the first instance or contact Sergeant Glenn Elder, IMT Incident Controller at IO-Norfolk-Island [at] afp.gov.au or +6723 22222.
27 May 2021
EMT
Please read more information here.
Updated Thursday 22 April 2021
Pandemic Management Structure on Norfolk Island.
The management of the COVID-19 pandemic is being undertaken under the Disaster and Emergency Management Act 2001(Norfolk Island)
The IMT that was established for the operational management of our current declared emergency, is led by the Incident Controller who is the OIC Police (Sergeant Glenn Elder or his delegate). The IMT is responsible for the operational management of the pandemic emergency. It has representation from NIRC (Bruce Taylor), NIHRACS (Kath Bowman or her delegate) with Hayley Evans as the Welfare Functional Service Co-Ordinator (FSC). The DITRDC is represented by Fleur Keast.
The legislation and NORDISPLAN prepared under the legislation provide a flexible and adaptable structure that can respond to any event regardless of the cause. Whilst EMNIC is a permanent statutory appointed body both EMT and IMT are temporary structures established to handle an emergency. In this case it is the COVID-19 pandemic. It has proven to be a highly effective structure in which local decision-making has been able to work co-operatively with Commonwealth and State agencies in the management of both the initial disaster and the current recovery stage.
We are now considering how to transition out of the pandemic and will provide further updates to the community as this progresses.
For any questions about the COVID-19 response on Norfolk Island, please visit the Norfolk Island Regional Council website: http://www.norfolkisland.gov.nf/covid-19-advice-norfolk-island in the first instance or contact Detective Sergeant Glenn Elder, IMT Incident Controller at IO-Norfolk-Island [at] afp.gov.au or +6723 22222.
Please read more information here.
Updated Thursday 1 April 2021
Lifting of Greater Brisbane lockdown and end of local self-isolation requirements.
The Queensland Government has lifted the lockdown requirements for the Greater Brisbane area from 12:00 midday today (AEST). Local self-isolation requirements are removed from 2:00pm (Norfolk Island time) for people who have been in the Greater Brisbane area since March 20th.. Anyone who is in self-isolation associated with NIHRACS requirements must continue to abide by their direction.
Please read more information here.
Updated Tuesday 30 March 2021
Updated - 7:30am Tuesday 30 March
A further note to the visitors and travellers that are due to travel back to Brisbane on today's flight, today Tuesday 30 March - all passengers are cleared to leave, however, the wearing of masks is now mandatory for all travellers entering the Airport carpark and buildings.
If you need any assistance with regards to being placed in isolation over the next few days, kindly contact Hayley Evans on 52777.
Updated Monday 29 March 2021
Updated - 9:30PM Monday 29 March 2021; Greater Brisbane 3-day lockdown and changed local requirements for self-isolation.
Following from the release of the details associated with the Queensland Government 3-day lockdown of the Greater Brisbane area the following requirements are in effect on Norfolk Island.
Anyone who is on the island and has been in the Greater Brisbane area (City of Brisbane; City of Ipswich; Logan City; Moreton Bay Region or Redland City) since March 20th are required to self-isolate at their home or accommodation until 7pm on Thursday April 1st (Norfolk Island time). The need for further isolation will be assessed by NIHRACS. Note that this is a change from the requirements released earlier today; Monday 29 March 2021.
- Anyone who has symptoms should ring NIHRACS and book to have a test. Tests are conducted on a drive through basis between 2 and 3pm each day.
- Travellers to the island should monitor the NSW and Queensland Government websites for close contact venues and if they have visited the venues at the times listed must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days.
EMT will continue to monitor the situation.
Greater Brisbane 3-day lockdown and travel to Norfolk Island
The Queensland Government has announced this morning that it will be placing the Greater Brisbane into a three-day lockdown from 5pm today March 29th. This is a result of further community transmission. It is to be reviewed on Wednesday.
In respect to travel to the island, people from the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan are prevented from leaving their homes. Leaving to go on holiday is not a reason that is permitted. This is a Queensland Government Health requirement and means that anyone from these areas cannot travel to the island during the lockdown period.
Anyone who arrives on the island from the Greater Brisbane area from today (March 29th) will be required to self-isolate at home until released by NIHRACS. This includes residents returning who have been in the Greater Brisbane lockdown area.
These restrictions only apply to Greater Brisbane and people coming to the island from other parts of Queensland can travel as normal. They do need to check the requirements associated with travelling through the Greater Brisbane area to the airport. Transit through the Brisbane airport from other States and Territories does not appear to be affected by the lockdown.
Anyone with even mild symptoms should contact NIHRACS and get tested immediately.
This measure by the Queensland Government is a precautionary measure and people from the Greater Brisbane area who are already on the island are not a risk to the community and do not need to isolate. When they return to Brisbane they will be required to go into lockdown until the Queensland Government removes the restriction.
EMT will continue to monitor the situation.
Please read more information here.
Updated Sunday 28 March 2021
Brisbane COVID alert close and casual contact requirements.
Following the recent finding of a cases in Brisbane the Queensland Government has issued requirements for close contacts listed at Contact tracing — coronavirus (COVID-19) | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au) . Anyone who has travelled to the island from Brisbane since March 20th should check the Queensland Health contract tracing website.
Close contacts are required to quarantine at home immediately for 14 days and complete the Queensland contact tracing self-assessment. They will be contacted by Queensland Health for testing. Casual contacts are required to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. People who have visited the listed low risk sites are required to monitor for symptoms.
If you have been to the close, casual or low risk sites at the times listed by the Queensland Government you should not travel to the island. If you are already on the island, you must contact NIHRACS.
Please read more information here.
Updated Monday 15 March 2021
NSW COVID-19 case locations and local requirements.
The NSW Government has released an updated list of case locations and instructions associated with the recent quarantine hotel case. These can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates. Currently the main concern is with anyone who has visited “Pancake on the Rocks” on Saturday 13 March. Anyone who has visited the location is regarded as a close contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result. Anyone who has visited a further five listed locations in Bexley North, Haymarket and Hurstville need to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately and self-isolate if symptoms occur.
Anyone who has travelled to the island from Sydney since Saturday should check the NSW website.
If you have been at any of the close contact locations and have travelled to the island you are required to contact NIHRACS, get tested and self-isolate until directed by NIHRACS.
Please read more information here.
Updated Tuesday 14 March 2021
Brisbane Princes Alexandra Hospital Contact tracing Alert -local requirements.
Following a positive case at the Princes Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane the Queensland Government has issued a contact tracing alert associated with close contact locations. People who have been at any of the listed locations have been asked to immediately home quarantine for fourteen days (from March 11). The list of locations can be found at https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid....
If you have been at any of the close contact locations and have travelled to the island you are required to contact NIHRACS, get tested and self-isolate until directed by NIHRACS.
Anyone who has travelled to the island from one of the low-risk locations is required to monitor their health and immediately contact NIHRACS and get tested if they get any COVID-19 symptoms.
Please read more information here.
Updated Friday 12 March 2021
Lifting of Auckland hotspot and resumption of Green Zone flights from New Zealand.
Following from the Commonwealth announcement that the declaration of the Auckland hotspot is to be lifted Green Zone flights from New Zealand to Australia can resume from 11:59 pm AEDT Thursday, March 11, 2021. EMT has also decided today to remove Auckland as a hot spot. This means that there will be no local restrictions apply to travellers from New Zealand to the island. Other jurisdictions may have restrictions in place and any travellers to the island need to check the requirements of any State or Territory that they may be travelling through.
Please read more information here.
Management of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Norfolk Island
The Emergency Management Team (EMT) and Incident Management Team (IMT) were established by the Emergency Management Committee (EMNIC) to manage the State of Emergency declaration for the COVID-19 pandemic. They were established under the island’s disaster management plan (NORDISPLAN).
The EMT is chaired by the Emergency Controller and is responsible for strategic operational decisions. It has appointed representatives who provide advice from NIHRACS, business, welfare, the community, NIRC and the Office of the Administrator. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DITRDC) is an observer.
The IMT is responsible for operational management of the pandemic and is led by the Incident Controller who for the pandemic is the OIC of Police. It is set up in functional areas covering medical (NIHRACS), welfare, planning & logistics, and operations.
Contacts
Health enquiries: Norfolk Island Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS) +6723 22091
