“Intending travelers of 18 years and above must be fully vaccinated before they can enter the country,” warns Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday.
This warning was made following a Cabinet decision to ease flight movements in and out of the country to revamp the dwindling local tourism industry as a result of the global pandemic.
Based on the Cabinet decision, intending travelers must take their final vaccination dose 4 weeks prior to their travel date.
“No one 18 years and older will be allowed to enter the country if they are not vaccinated,” Prime Minister Sogavare said in his weekly National Address on Monday.
This requirement also applies to children of older age groups eligible for vaccination if they are travelling to Solomon Islands.
Cabinet also approved the recommendation by the Covid-19 Oversight Committee to group countries into three risk categories – COVID-19 free, moderate-risk and high-risk.
This re-categorization of risk is another measure to prepare the country on its journey toward the full reopening of our border.
One of the major changes approved by Cabinet is the reduction of post arrival quarantine period across all three risk categories.
Another change is the reduction in pre-departure and post-arrival COVID-19 testing regimen based on scientific analysis and the fact that all returning adults must be fully vaccinated.
-GCU Press
Note:
The three new risk categories in the regulation are as follows:
For each of the 3 categories, the Incident Controller (IC) may increase the pre-departure and post arrival requirements based on risk assessments.
For children under 18 years of age that cannot be vaccinated, the duration of quarantine for families traveling with children under 18 years old will be as follows: