At the end of 2021, the Pacific was home to some of the last countries in the world to remain entirely COVID-free. However, several Pacific Island countries and areas (PICs) are now facing their first community transmission, while the few remaining COVID-free PICs are reinforcing their preparedness.
Yet as WHO’s Representative to the South Pacific, Dr Mark Jacobs, says, they are not alone in these efforts: “The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have been working together to support Pacific Island countries and areas (PICs) to ready themselves to respond to the virus since the pandemic began.