Kiribati Declares State of Public Emergency and Partial Lock Down in Response to Corona Virus Pandemic

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Kiribati Head of State and President His Excellency Te Beretitenti Taneti Maamau has declared a State of Public Emergency for the Republic of Kiribati effective on the 26th of March, 2020. This is in response to the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak which has reached the shores of the Pacific including Fiji.

The State of Public Emergency will allow Kiribati to prepare and manage the impact of this Novel Corona Virus 2019 pandemic. Kiribati remains at Level 2 on the Kiribati COVID-19 Alert level where there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 in Kiribati at the moment. The Government acknowledges that the people of Kiribati are very vulnerable to this virus as it lacks the human resources and capacity to prevent and stop the spread of disease once it enters Kiribati.

In relation to this State of Public Emergency preparedness, the Kiribati Government has announced as part of its precautionary measure, a partial lock down for students only. All schools will be closed across Kiribati effective from 30th of March ending on the 16th of April, 2020. This early term or semester break will have students remaining at home or in boarding schools for those on the outer islands. All Government Ministries and bodies will remain as normal until further notice.

Furthermore, in response to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has set up a taskforce with subcommittees responsible for vulnerable sectors that could be affected by the disease outbreak.

The public is hereby advised to stay updated with news from the Government. Only news from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Office of Te Beretitenti are to be considered true and accurate on COVID-19 updates.

President Maamau reiterates the importance of following Health advisories by the Ministry of Health and Medical service (MHMS) in order to prevent and minimize the spread of the disease. The public is advised to remain calm and to be supportive since the Government is doing its best to prepare for and respond to the Covid19 pandemic and needs the support and understanding of its people during this time.

And knowing that Kiribati is a Christian country and a country of faith, President Maamau is appealing to all respective church leaders and all Kiribati citizens to stay united and remain resolute in PRAYERS to God to protect and bless Kiribati during these disturbing times.

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E Kanakoa Ana Katanoata Ibukin te Kakatauraoi Kiribati ao n Kaini Tabeua ana Tabo n Kaitara te Aoraki ae te Corona Virus

Ea tia Kautun Aban Kiribati ae Beretitenti Taneti Maamau n kanakoa ana Katanoata ibukin te Kakatauraoi ke te State of Public Emergency n tairikin te Kaabong ae 26 iai bongin Maati 2020.

E karaoa aio te Tautaeka ni Kiribati bwa ana anga n katauraoi n taobaraea ao n buoka totokoan butin te aoraki ae te Corona Virus ke te COVID-19 are ea tabe n buta ngkai iaon te aonnaba n ikotaki ma Tebetebeke.

Nte tai aio ao e mena ngkai Kiribati nte Kauring 2 iaon te Kiribati Covid Alert level are kaotana bwa e tuai roko te aoraki aio iaon abara. Te babaire ibukin kanakoan te Katanoata n Kakatauraoi e bon riki ngkai e kakoaua te Tautaeka bwa eaki tau ana konaa n kaitara man taobaraai kanganga ngkana e roko te aoraki aio iaon abara.

Irarikin aio, ao ea tia naba n baireia te Tautaeka bwa anang kainaki reirei nako iaon Kiribati (partial lockdown) ao aio are ena waaki man te Moanibong ae 30 bongin Maati ao ni manga teirake nte Kaabong ae 16 iai bongin Eberi, 2020. Inanon te motirawa aio, ao a kaantaningaki ataei bwa ana tiku n mwengaia ke n aia tabo n reirei (boarding schools) ibukia ataei ake a mena I tinanikun Tarawa. Ana aobiti ma ana Botaki nako te Tautaeka ana bon reitinako n uki inanon te tai aio.

Inanon te tai aio, ao te Tautaeka n Kiribati ea mwaiti ana mwakuri n taobara te kanganga are ena kona n riki man rokon ao butin te aoraki aio iaon Kiribati. Teuana maibuakon ana anga te Tautaeka n katauraoi imwain rokon te aoraki aio bon katean ana rabwata aika a kaainaki n taian komete aika a kakaokoro ake ana tabeakini itera ake ana kona n rotaki n rokon ao butin te aoraki aio.

A kauringaki ikai te botanaomata bwa ana teimatoa n kakauongo nakon katanoata man te Tautaeka ni Kiribati ibukin te aoraki aio. Ti rongorongo ma katanoata ake a kanakoaki man Ana Aobiti te Beretitenti (OB) ke te Botaki ibukin te Mauri ao Katoki Aoraki (MHMS) aika ana kakoauaki.

E reitia n katerea Beretitenti Mamaau nakoia te botanaomata bwa ana kakaonimaki n iri Tua ma Kainibaire ibukin te Mauri (Health Advisories) ake a tia n kateaki man te Botaki ibukin te Mauri ao Katoki Aoraki ibukin kamanoaia man te aoraki aio.

A kauringaki riki te bota n aomata iaon Kiribati bwa ana aki raraoma ke n tabeaianga ngkai e kabanea ana kona ami Tautaeka n katauraoia imwain rokon te aoraki aio iaon Kiribati.