COVID-19 outbreak in PNG sees flights into Queensland suspended

Flights into Cairns from Papua New Guinea (PNG) will be suspended from midnight as the country struggles to contain a surge in coronavirus infections.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning announced several actions to help PNG, while reducing the immediate risk to Australians.

From midnight, all flights into Cairns will be suspended and all charter flights to Australia will be suspended, except for medivac or critical flights.

Mr Morrison said the passenger cap on flights from Port Moresby to Brisbane would also be reduced.

All outbound travel exemptions by Australians to PNG, except for essential or critical workers including humanitarian and medi-related activity, will also be suspended.

“This will include general FIFO workers….