Norfolk Island Covid -19 State of Emergency 2020 – 2022

Two years ago, Norfolk Island borders closed as the Covid-19 pandemic impacted every corner of the world. Norfolk Island restricted travellers, only local and essential workers could enter Norfolk Island, and other travellers were not able to fly, and their holidays were cancelled. The Norfolk Island borders were closed on 17^th March 2020, and from my memory our borders were closed before any other Australian borders.

The weeks, months and now two years that followed has seen many changes as travel regulations impacted on everyone’s lives. Our remote South Pacific Island became isolated, and many cut off from family, some felt more remote and yet the safety of our Norfolk Island bubble, we somehow felt safe away from the places with Covid-19 outbreaks around the world and in Australia with devastating numbers of deaths and others in hospital as Covid-19 spread through communities across the globe.

Staying Covid free with no reported cases on Norfolk Island eventually came to an end on 30^th December 2021 when two cases were reported and since that date 125 cases have tested positive. This year the local health system staff worked long hours to control and reduce case numbers. This week there has only been one active case. During these recent months I have heard that one person was medivac care flight to Australia for medical care.

This week it has been announced that the State of Emergency for Norfolk Island will possibly end on the 31^st March 2022. There is a Emergency Management Team, EMT, they have met to discuss the issues of travel requirements for Norfolk Island. At present Covid testing is still required to travel to Norfolk Island, and travel visas are also required. It will be interesting if these requirements will still be applied when the State of Emergency ends or if Norfolk Island will be treated like all other states in Australia?

When writing this article, I decided to look back at my previous Covid articles which I have written during the past two years and here are a few headlines and details of the Covid impacts on our lives here on Norfolk Island. The shock that our world could change overnight and travel restrictions requiring travel visas to come to Norfolk Island or travel interstate. Leaving Australia to see loved ones was near impossible as permission with travel passes was needed to travel outside to other countries, even New Zealand.

We now have new words and new safety requirements were introduced into our lives. RAT test, PPE gear, Social Distancing, Travel Bubbles, Isolation, Job Keeper, Facemasks, Sign in QR codes, Vaccines, Boosters, Sanitiser, Stay Home - Stay Safe, Corona Virus, Delta, Omicron. The list goes on, as we have adjusted to living in the new world with Covid.

Norfolk Island Eventful Week – 17 March 2020 COVID-19

During the past week, Norfolk Island has had two states of Emergencies. First was the Tropical Cyclone RED ALERT as TC Gretel passed Norfolk Island on Monday. Followed by the State of Emergency as the Corona Virus (COVID-19) regulations were put in place to protect our Norfolk Island community.

The world news has seen the spread of the COVID-19 since first notified in China in December 2019. Makings it’s way through Europe and now to all corners of the world. The steps declared on Tuesday morning, 17^th March 2020, is similar to many declarations imposed around many countries and communities around the Pacific and the World

What does COVID – 19 State of Emergency mean to Norfolk Island? - March 2020

During the next week (March 2020), there will be no more tourist arriving on Norfolk Island and the impact of our tourism driven economy will be stressful for many in our community. Most businesses and employment on Norfolk Island is based around the visiting tourist.

The Australian Prime Minister, Hon Scott Morrison, announced emergency financial packages and the Emergency Management Norfolk Island EMNI, managers will be hopefully organising assistance for Norfolk Island businesses and community.

The important message to the Norfolk Island community – March 2019

Here on Norfolk Island, we do not want the COVID-19 to spread to our remote island and vulnerable members of our community. Halting travellers will slow the spread of the virus and assist the medical staff at the hospital to care for people with medical needs.

Many will feel cut off from their families overseas and the unknown future and when we can travel again to see loved ones is an uneasy feeling

Norfolk Island in Lockdown - 3 April 2020

On Friday 3 April 2020, the community were advised that Norfolk Island would be in complete lock down as from 10pm Friday night. This means you must stay at your home and only leave for food or medical supplies or if you are an essential worker.

Six of Pandemic – September 2020

It is now six months since the Covid 19 Pandemic restrictions started for Norfolk Island. On Monday 16^th March 2020, Cyclone Gretel closed the Norfolk Island airport and flights to Norfolk Island were cancelled, while the community waited at home for the storm. The following day, Tuesday 17^th March 2020, the announcement was made Civil Emergency would continue, that Norfolk Island was now in Corona Virus (COVID-19) restrictions and the flight from Australia was turned back and flights cancelled that day.

Corona virus had spread through China and European countries, and the worldwide pandemic restrictions had reached our remote island the news announcement of our border closure was a shock to the community and life on Norfolk Island as a tourism industry changed overnight. The concern that Covid 19 would be devastating if the illness were to spread into our community, as it is so dangerous to the vulnerable, those with health problems and the elderly. Cruise ships were impacted, and many early cases were linked to passengers and crew on cruises.

New Zealand and Australia and South Pacific islands also closed borders and residents were advised to return home as soon as possible. Travellers across the world rushed for flights, hoping to get home before border closures and while flights were still available. I know family and friends who were relieved to make it home to their family, friends and loved ones.

Early April 2020, Norfolk Island was moved into lockdown and only essential services and businesses could be open. Some were able to work from home and many now had loss of income and their daily routines and stress as reality of State Emergency and regulations controlling movement and freedom impacted. Unless shopping for food, or petrol, medical or attending essential work everyone was required to stay at home

When lockdown was lifted, social distancing rules became the new normal. Limited numbers of people in gatherings, food shops were allowed takeaway, no dining in at first. We are now constantly washing our hands, use sanitisers, along with social distancing, and face masks recommended to travellers and those at risk.

Funeral gatherings numbers were restricted, and the community sadly lined the roadway to farewell Archie Bigg, with flowers along the road, as we paid respect and supported the family as they drove to the Kingston Cemetery downtown.

As the months of restrictions continued, the tourism and travel industries were hit hard, and many redundancies have continued to be announced across Australia, New Zealand, and the world. The Australian Government introduced Job Keeper and Job Seeker was adjusted to support those with incomes impacted by the pandemic. The end of September 2020 will see many changes to this support and the legislation is adjusted to target those most in need. Norfolk Island also received extra funding which have been allocated to different areas of the community, it will be interesting to see these projects as they are commenced around Norfolk Island.

International Travel Regulations to Leave Australia – September 2020

2020 has been like no other year with the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic. Travelling has now become restrictive with travel visas and many regulations making or organising any flights very difficult.

I personally have studied the rules and regulations regarding Australian Residents exemptions to travel out of Australia. As Norfolk Island is an outer territory, our community is also classified as Australian Residents. The regulations put in place during the pandemic restricted residents leaving Australia without qualifying under the rules. The Australia Home Affairs was the office who processed application and I applied under compassionate grounds, and it took many applications to be approved to travel to New Zealand.

2021 Covid Continues

During 2021 the impact of Covid-19 restrictions continue and travel bubbles with New Zealand effects Air New Zealand and overnight travellers were stranded on Norfolk Island and Qantas flights were organised to repatriate those stuck on Norfolk Island. Tourism was stop start, Queensland had also kept strict controls and travellers from QLD were able to holiday on Norfolk Island. New Zealand borders briefly opened but Air Chathams have stopped flights until September 2022.

Medical services also were more difficult with visiting specialist impacted with travel restrictions, the pressure on hospitals meant many appointments were postponed or delayed and many members of Norfolk Island community felt uncomfortable about the safety of travelling to crowded cities and the added risk as covid cases increased.

In mid-2021 vaccines were made available on Norfolk Island and by the end of the year boosters were also arriving and children’s vaccines also were being organised.

As mentioned above, the restrictions continued through 2021 with travel groups and sports groups allowed some months and as cases increased in Australia, the border restrictions were increased. Qantas took over from Air New Zealand as the authorised passenger service for Norfolk Island.

Now two years later, March 2022, I look back and consider what we have learnt and what we have all been through together. Some of us have sadly lost loved ones and friends to the virus Covid-19 and we have all known people young and old who have had covid. Around the world there are protestors anti the rules and restrictions, some are anti-vaccines.

Living remote has protected us, but also made us very aware of how bad things could get if we didn’t have medical support of our remote community.

Now that the Covid-19 State of emergency is about to end on Norfolk Island, please take care, remember the lessons we have learnt and “social distancing does matter.”

Betty Matthews

March 2022