Do not travel to PNG, US says

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THE United States has added Coronavirus (Covid-19) to its travel advisory list of reasons why Americans should not travel to Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The US department of state (Bureau of Consular Affairs) updated its level 4 (do not travel) travel advisory last Tuesday.
The Travel.State.Gov also maintained all its previous dampers for people planning to travel to PNG.
They are: crime, civil unrest, health concerns, natural disasters, and kidnapping.
It said the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (had issued a level 4 travel health notice for PNG for Covid-19, indicating a very high level of Covid-19 in the country.
“Your risk of contracting Covid-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated,” it said.
“Before planning any international travel, please review the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s specific recommendations for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.”
There are restrictions in place, including third-country transit requirements, affecting US citizen entry and exit in PNG.
Visit the embassy’s Covid-19 page for more information on Covid-19 and related restrictions and conditions in PNG.
The US advised travelers to reconsider travel to:

  • BOUGAINVILLE, particularly areas near the Panguna mine, due to civil unrest;
  • THE Highlands region due to civil unrest; and
  • AREAS in the vicinity of Mt Ulawun on the island of New Britain due to natural disaster.