Alert Level 3 for Vanuatu with full lockdown
On the 4th of March 2022, Vanuatu recorded its first ever community outbreak of the COVID-19 variant Omicron.
The Government declared a lockdown and this situation has since been upgraded from Alert Level 2 to Alert 3 for the whole of Vanuatu in accordance with the country’s alert level system.
Alert Level 3, which means community transmissions are highly active puts the Vanuatu group of islands in lockdown with no incoming international flights, no outbound domestic flights and shipping services but outgoing international flights for the country’s labour mobility scheme is still ongoing.
As of today, 11th March 2022, Vanuatu’s current COVID-19 status is as follows:
- 153 active cases through community transmission;
- 13 recovered cases and;
- 2 hospitalizations.
The Vanuatu Government is continuing to roll out its vaccination programs for the remaining population who have yet to receive their first and second doses.
Booster shots are also in progress and the general population is encouraged to take booster shots to ensure some level of immunity against the virus.
All business houses running essential services as outlined by the Government Ministerial order have been applying for Essential Passes to be able to operate.
VFIPA encourages all foreign investors in Vanuatu to continue to adhere to Ministerial orders as they come and respects all foreign investors who are continuing to provide employment and service in the country while facing challenges in operations.
VFIPA understands that various businesses have been open to all customers despite services being open to essential needs only and would like to remind all businesses to cooperate with the Government so that they are able to meet the two months target containment date as outlined in the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Response Plan.
This will then facilitate a speedier recovery for the country to a new normal of business and trade in the country.
The Agency’s services are at minimal at this point in time however we are operating through working from home and we encourage any investor who has issues with applications or any investment enquiry to send an email or get in touch with us through our social media platforms through the name Vanuatu National Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.
The Agency firmly believes that by working together, Vanuatu can achieve containment or new normal for doing business in Vanuatu and the country can eventually open its borders as well for investment.
