“These are all signs that there is a major epidemic in the community.”

The epidemic is concerning for PNG,but it’s also an issue for Australia and particularly the Torres Strait and north Queensland,Mr Morrison said.

“We’ve been very conscious of the risks that are present there,” he said.

In order to address that risk the government is bringing in several new measures. Passenger flights from PNG to Cairns will be suspended from midnight on Wednesday for a fortnight,and all charter flights will also be suspended.

All outbound travel exemptions,except those for critical medical workers,will also be suspended for people travelling to PNG from Australia.

Mr Morrison said providing vaccines for health workers was a very practical way of assisting PNG and protecting the Torres Strait Islands from the outbreak.

“They’re our family,they’re our friends. They’re our neighbours. They’re our partners. They have always stood with us and we will always stand with them. This is in Australia’s interests,and is in our region’s interests,” he said.

“I want to assure the people of Papua New Guinea and my dear friend[PNG Prime Minister] James Marape,that Australia as always,we’ll stand with them as they meet this challenge and support them in every way that we possibly can.”

The 8000 vaccine doses will fill a “critical gap” in PNG’s vaccine program as it awaits delivery of further vaccines through COVAX in April and May,Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.

“This gap for frontline workers will be absolutely essential for those people to be able to continue to do the job that they are doing,” she said.

The AUSMAT medical team will arrive in PNG on Monday,and the government was also providing $144 million to support PNG’s vaccine rollout.

Australia will support the rollout intreaty villages in PNG’s western province.

“I’ve said to Prime Minister Marape we’re very keen to support in the provision of supplies and other necessities into those villages,” Mr Morrison said.

On Monday,Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland Health tested 500 swabs taken from PNG residents and250 of those came back positive.

“We have major concerns now about what is happening in Papua New Guinea,”she said on Tuesday.