Travel restrictions

An order issued by the Acting Minister of National Emergency Services, Richard-Hyde Menke said only fully vaccinated travelers are allowed into the country.

It states that a traveller to Nauru by an aircraft shall produce proof of being fully vaccinated against Coronavirus (Covid-19) to the airline before commencing travel to Nauru unless the traveller is exempted from vaccination under Regulations 6 and 6A of the National Disaster Risk Management (Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Vaccination)) Regulations 2021;

The daily average for hospital admissions has risen past 100,000 for the first time since last winter.

The recent wave, driven by the Delta variant, is most severe in the US South but cases are rising nationwide.

Monday's guidance from the 27-nation bloc reverses advice from June that lifted restrictions on American travellers ahead of tourism season.

The recommendation is nonbinding, meaning individual countries will be allowed to decide if they still wish to allow US visitors with proof of vaccination, negative tests, or quarantine.

Since March last year, the country has banned its citizens from leaving the country as part of its COVID strategy.

That restriction has not previously applied to Australians who usually live in other countries.

But they will now need to apply for an exemption for outbound travel - in line with rules for other Australians.

Australia's tough border rules have been controversial. Critics say this change - in effect from 11 August - will further punish families and deter citizens from returning.

Nauru is one of only 12 countries in the world that has not yet reported COVID-19 cases – ten of those are Pacific island countries and five are all the Micronesian countries – including Nauru.

In his weekly update, the president said it is very important we understand and remember the magnitude of this virus and the tremendous efforts that the Nauru government as well as governments of other Micronesian countries have taken to respond to COVID-19 and protect our borders.

Effective immediately from 3 March 2020, anyone travelling from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Korea and Italy in the past 21 days will not be allowed into Nauru.

According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the travel restriction and measures will remain in place until a new issuance.

The World Health Organisation reports more than 93,000 people have been infected in more than 80 countries.

Four new Member States (Argentina, Chile, Poland and Ukraine) have reported cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.