The COVID-19 pandemic has presented Pacific Island governments with one of the greatest security challenges faced in the region’s history, presenting a major threat to the lives and livelihoods of Pacific people. Covid-19 has also demonstrated the unique position of many Pacific Islands, being difficult to access by international travel. This global position allowed Pacific Island nations to close borders and prevent the pandemic from affecting the Pacific for almost all of 2020.
In 2021, when COVID-19 has unfortunately penetrated parts of the Pacific, the region has still managed to innovate policy responses on border control and vaccination, with high rates of vaccination and low levels of community transmission in many countries.
The APSC’s coverage of COVID-19 in the Pacific has been one of its marquee products, documenting the story of the pandemic in the region, in its COVID-19 Trendlines series, and now, in the interactive COVID-19 Pacific Response map. Over time, this coverage has extended to the Pacific Wayfinder podcast, with spotlights on Papua New Guinea. The COVID-19 Trendlines has also spotlighted how the pandemic has affected the Pacific subregions, Micronesia and Polynesia.
APSC COVID-19 Interactive Map
During the COVID-19 pandemic the APSC has sought to track and analyse responses from national governments and the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies through our Trendlines series. This research has been converted into our interactive COVID-19 Pacific Response map. Here, you will see key facts, updated fortnightly, which reveal COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccination rates across the region.
Blog Posts
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: June 2022
More than two years into the pandemic, COVID-19 has now been officially recorded in every Pacific Island country, and more countries are looking to re-open their international borders as vaccination rates edge higher.
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: May 2022
Many Pacific countries are beginning to open their international borders, but the persistent presence of COVID-19 is complicating plans.
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: April 2022
As the Pacific passes the two-year anniversary of COVID-19 in the region, the virus is continuing to have severe impacts on island nations.It has been 24 months since the pandemic began in the Pacific.
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: March 2022
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Pacific, with many island nations experiencing their first outbreaks of the pandemic.
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: February 2022
The rapid spread of the Omicron variant within the Pacific has seen community transmission in the previously COVID-19-free countries of...
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: 2021 in review
Although COVID-19 will remain a major challenge for governments in the Pacific, there is hope that 2022 will see the...
COVID-19 Trendlines: French Pacific Territories
Trendlines Swift border closure key to success in 2020, border re-opening led to increase in cases Decisions made in Paris...
COVID-19: The Pacific Response – Trendlines from Micronesia
The COVID-19 pandemic has not had a consistent impact across the countries and territories of Micronesia. While parts of the...
COVID-19 Trendlines: Spotlight on Polynesia
18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the countries and territories of Polynesia account for many of the last remaining places...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 9 September 2021
Our fortnightly update on COVID-19 in the Pacific Fiji’s government has claimed that 96.9 per cent of the country’s target...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 26 August 2021
Our fortnightly update on COVID-19 in the Pacific French Polynesia is staring down the barrel of its worst COVID-19 outbreak...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 13 August 2021
The Fijian Government has refused to impose a lockdown despite exploding case numbers, whilst Palau has announced that it has...
COVID-19 - the Pacific Response: 29 July 2021
Papua New Guinea and Fiji are facing large budget deficits in the wake of COVID-19, while Australia is set to...
COVID-19 - the Pacific Response: 15 July 2021
Fiji is introducing a ‘no jab, no job’ policy for public servants, whilst Japan has committed to vaccine assistance for...
COVID-19 - the Pacific Response: 1 July 2021
Spotlight on Fiji Fiji is refusing to implement a hard lockdown, while vaccine hesitancy is creating increased risk throughout the...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 17 June
Papua New Guinea’s Health Minister declared that COVID-19 is “under control” despite case numbers continuing to climb, Hugh McClure writes...
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: 3 June
Papua New Guinea is reporting higher than expected vaccination numbers, whilst Fiji has announced it will be opening temporary hospitals...
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: 20 May 2021
Lockdown restrictions are being lifted in parts of Fiji, while there are fears vaccines supplied to Papua New Guinea by...
COVID-19 – the Pacific response: 6 May 2021
There are now 51 active cases of COVID-19 in Fiji, following the detection of the Indian-variant of the virus in...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 7 October
Pacific leaders demonstrated their concern for global vaccine inequality at the United Nations this fortnight, Hugh McClure writes. New Caledonia’s...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 23 September
Widespread vaccine hesitancy is stifling Papua New Guinea’s vaccine rollout, even as case numbers grow along the country’s border with...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 22 October
Our fortnightly update on COVID-19 in the Pacific. Papua New Guinea’s health system is being overwhelmed as positive cases in...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 19 November
Our fortnightly update on COVID-19 in the Pacific Fiji has taken the first step in reopening its international borders, and...
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 4 November
Papua New Guinea is facing a worsening outbreak as tensions simmer between rural communities and health officials, Hugh McClure writes....
COVID-19 - the Pacific response: 2 December
Fiji continues with plans to open borders despite the emergence of the Omicron variant, whilst new analysis has warned that...
Podcasts
PNG's COVID-19 Challenge
As Papua New Guinea deals with the growing spread of COVID-19 it faces an urgent need to be testing its...
