Location: Papua New Guinea
Event: Issuance of New COVID-19 Emergency Measures Effective April 13, 2021
Papua New Guinea continues to experience a surge in COVID-19 cases. The capacity of the country’s health system is strained, and access to medical care and vaccines is limited.
In response to the continued increase in positive cases, the Office of the Controller issued new emergency measures
that came into effect April 13th. The new measures extend or modify many of the previous measures.
Under the new measures:
- Interprovincial air travel is restricted to:
- Persons returning to their usual place or residence or repatriating to their home country, per guidance
to air service providers
- Persons working for organizations list in Schedule 1 of Measure 2
regarding international travel
- Persons who have written approval from the Controller’s office or the provincial administrator of the province from which travel originates
- Persons returning to their usual place or residence or repatriating to their home country, per guidance
- All domestic air travelers, except in cases of medical emergency, must present a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR, GeneXpert, or Rapid Diagnostic Test administered within one day prior to boarding
- The use of face masks is required in public places, including in markets, businesses, and on public transport
- Gatherings of more than 10 people are banned; gatherings for the purpose of religious activities are restricted to 50 people
- Retail outlets may only operate from 7 am to 8 pm
- Restaurants and service stations may only operate from 7 am to 10 pm
U.S. citizens are advised to review the measures for a comprehensive account of current requirements and restrictions. Questions about the new travel related requirements should be directed to air service providers.
U.S. citizens and their organizations are urged to adhere to all applicable local, provincial, and national requirements, and to follow health-related guidance in order to limit exposure to COVID-19 and to protect community members.
U.S. Embassy Port Moresby regularly updates its own COVID-19 information page, including the status of consular services and a summary of international transportation options and requirements. The page is for informational purposes only. The Embassy does not provide health and medical services to private U.S. citizens and cannot make travel arrangements or direct air service providers.
The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Actions to Take:
- Avoid non-essential domestic and international travel and take steps to avoid exposure by yourself, your family, and your community to COVID-19
- Follow the direction of local, provincial, and national government and health authorities
- Monitor local media and the PNG government’s COVID-19 portal for up-to-date information on the national situation
- Monitor the Embassy’s COVID-19 information page for updates on international travel and consular services
- Consult the CDC website for the up-to-date information on COVID-19
- Review the Department of State’s COVID-19 crisis page for the latest information on international travel and for a listing of other U.S. Embassies’ COVID-19 information pages
Travel Between PNG and the United States:
- Review Air Niugini’s travel advice and the “Transportation Options” section of the Embassy’s COVID-19 information page
- Note that the Embassy’s summary of transportation options is provided for informational purposes only; we cannot make travel arrangements and we cannot direct air service providers
- Obtain a negative result from a COVID-19 viral test administered within 72 hours of your first international departure
- Test results or documentation to be used for travel should include the traveler’s full name, date of birth, and passport number
- Consult the CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. COVID-19 testing requirements
- Pay close attention to transit requirements in third countries, including routing, ticketing, and COVID-19 testing requirements, as well maximum transit times
- Do not use fare aggregator services to book your travel; work with airlines directly or with a reputable travel agent who is familiar with PNG, Air Niugini, and Air Niugini’s partner airlines, as well transit requirements in Singapore, Hong Kong, Brisbane, or Sydney, as applicable
- If you transit Singapore or Hong Kong, ensure that you have a consolidated itinerary issued as a single ticket and that you and your baggage can be checked from Port Moresby to your post-Singapore or post-Hong Kong destination
- If you transit Brisbane or Sydney for more than eight hours, obtain a Subclass 771 transit visa; note that domestic travel within Australia, even to catch onward international flights, is not viable
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Phone number: +675 308 2100
Email address: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usembassyportmoresby/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/usembassypom?lang=en
U.S. State Department – Consular Affairs
+1 888 407 4747 or +1 202 501 4444
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