The Marshall Islands health secretary is making no apologies for closing the country off to all incoming passengers for two weeks to ward off the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The drastic measure was introduced on Monday by the National Disaster Committee, sealing off the country from all inbound air travel for two weeks.
The health secretary, Jack Niedenthal, says the country's health system is already overburdened with an eight-month on dengue epidemic.
Mr Niedenthal told Jamie Tahana the two-weeks will be used as breathing space, to help authorities prepare.
Passengers board a United Airlines flight in Majuro. For the first time in late January, Marshall Islands Immigration officials detained several passengers at Majuro's international airport for questioning in relation to participation in illegal adoptions in the United States. Photo: Giff Johnson
