Tonga records first-ever COVID-19 case, Pacific island nation prepares for lockdown
3 years, 2 months ago

Tonga records first-ever COVID-19 case, Pacific island nation prepares for lockdown

ABC  

Residents on Tonga's main island will go into a snap lockdown at midnight after the country recorded its first COVID-19 case since the beginning of the pandemic. Key points: Residents on Tonga's main island will begin a seven-day lockdown from Tuesday, with a daily curfew from 8pm to 6am The move comes after a passenger from New Zealand tested positive in hotel quarantine Some Tongans have been panic-buying ahead of lockdown restrictions Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onenoa announced the seven-day lockdown in a press conference on Monday, despite no evidence of community transmission. While it might be the earliest lockdown called by any Pacific nation in response to a COVID-19 case, Tonga's government has faced criticism for responding too slowly. Ms Guttennbeil-Likiliki blamed Tonga's upcoming national election, on November 18, for the mixed messaging, when authorities originally denied rumours about the positive case that were circulating earlier last week.

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History of this topic

Samoa detects scores of COVID cases within days of outbreak
2 years, 9 months ago

Samoa detects scores of COVID cases within days of outbreak

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Samoa has reported scores of …

Aid to volcano-hit Tonga brings 1st COVID outbreak, lockdown
2 years, 11 months ago

Aid to volcano-hit Tonga brings 1st COVID outbreak, lockdown

Associated Press  

BANGKOK — For more than two years, the isolation of the Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga helped keep COVID-19 at bay. “Clearly when you’ve got countries that have already got a very stretched, and fragile health system, when you have an emergency or a disaster and then you have the potential introduction of the virus, that’s going to make an …

Covid-free Tonga goes into lockdown after five cases are recorded
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid-free Tonga goes into lockdown after five cases are recorded

Daily Mail  

Tonga is going into lockdown after uncovering five Covid cases thought to be linked to international aid deliveries arriving on the tsunami-devastated islands. Two port workers in the capital Nuku'alofa, where aid shipments are being unloaded, tested positive for the virus late Tuesday before another three cases were discovered among their family members - including two in children. Tonga has …

Tonga records two COVID-19 community cases, Pacific Island nation prepares for two-day lockdown
2 years, 11 months ago

Tonga records two COVID-19 community cases, Pacific Island nation prepares for two-day lockdown

ABC  

Tonga will enter a two-day nationwide lockdown from Wednesday night after recording two asymptomatic community cases of COVID-19. Key points: Tonga had been COVID-free and has not had any community transmission of the virus since the start of the pandemic The lockdown comes as the Pacific Island nation struggles to recover from a volcanic eruption and tsunami last month The …

Covid outbreak on Australian aid ship headed to virus-free Tonga
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid outbreak on Australian aid ship headed to virus-free Tonga

Deccan Chronicle  

Almost two dozen crew on board an Australian Navy ship on its way to provide relief to the Pacific island of Tonga have been diagnosed with coronavirus, potentially hampering aid efforts to the Covid-free nation. Dutton said the Australian government was working with Tongan authorities to ensure the aid could still be delivered safely without passing on Covid to anyone …

23 Australians on Ship Delivering Aid to Tonga Have COVID-19
2 years, 11 months ago

23 Australians on Ship Delivering Aid to Tonga Have COVID-19

The Diplomat  

The pandemic is complicating international aid to tsunami-hit Tonga, one of the world’s few COVID-free countries. Nearly two dozen sailors on an Australian military ship going to deliver aid to Tonga have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday, raising fears they could bring COVID-19 to a Pacific nation that has so far managed to avoid any outbreaks. Meanwhile, …

Two thirds of passengers on first flight to Covid-free island test positive
2 years, 11 months ago

Two thirds of passengers on first flight to Covid-free island test positive

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The island of Kiribati had managed to stay Covid-free for the entirety of the pandemic - …

Fiji Reopens to Foreign Tourists for First Time in Nearly 2 Years Despite Omicron Threat
3 years, 1 month ago

Fiji Reopens to Foreign Tourists for First Time in Nearly 2 Years Despite Omicron Threat

News 18  

Fiji reopened its border to international travellers for the first time in nearly two years on Wednesday, as the Pacific Island country seeks to revive its dominant tourism industry. Fiji shut its border to all foreign nationals in March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19 in a desperate bid to stop its limited medical facilities being overrun. With about …

Tonga faces lockdown after first COVID case is detected
3 years, 2 months ago

Tonga faces lockdown after first COVID case is detected

Al Jazeera  

Prime Minister Pohiva Tuionetoa says South Pacific nation of 106,000 people could be locked down next week if infection spreads. Tongan Prime Minister Pohiva Tuionetoa warned on Saturday that residents on the country’s main island Tongatapu faced a possible lockdown next week after recording its first case of COVID-19. “We should use this time to get ready in case more …

Tonga reports its first ever COVID-19 case of the pandemic in traveller from New Zealand
3 years, 2 months ago

Tonga reports its first ever COVID-19 case of the pandemic in traveller from New Zealand

ABC  

The island nation of Tonga has reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a traveller from New Zealand tested positive. Key points: The island nation had remained COVID-free until now The case is a traveller from Christchurch who departed before the news came of community cases there New Zealand health officials said the traveller was fully vaccinated and returned a …

Tonga reports its first-ever COVID-19 case
3 years, 2 months ago

Tonga reports its first-ever COVID-19 case

NPR  

Tonga reports its first-ever COVID-19 case Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Baker/AP Mark Baker/AP WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The island nation of Tonga on Friday reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a traveler from New Zealand tested positive. Sponsor Message Tonga's Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa said in a radio address that the traveler was among 215 passengers who …

Tonga reports its first coronavirus case
3 years, 2 months ago

Tonga reports its first coronavirus case

Al Jazeera  

Tonga’s prime minister will announce on Monday whether the island will be placed under a national lockdown. The nation island of Tonga has reported its first coronavirus infection since the beginning of the pandemic after a passenger travelling from New Zealand tested positive. In a radio address on Friday, Tonga’s Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa confirmed that there was one COVID-19 …

Fiji to open its borders next month and Australians already booking tropical holidays
3 years, 2 months ago

Fiji to open its borders next month and Australians already booking tropical holidays

ABC  

Australian families looking for a tropical getaway say they feel more confident planning a holiday to Fiji than interstate, with double-vaccination rates in the Pacific country surpassing 80 per cent. Key points: Fiji will reopen to some international tourists from November 11 The Pacific nation has turned around its coronavirus response since June with high vaccination rates PM Frank Bainimarama …

New Zealand extends lockdown in virus-hit Auckland
3 years, 3 months ago

New Zealand extends lockdown in virus-hit Auckland

Deccan Chronicle  

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's largest city of Auckland will remain in strict Covid-19 lockdown for at least another week as a Delta variant outbreak "rumbles along", Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Monday. Ardern said the city's two million residents needed to abide by stay-at-home orders because of the emergence of several "mystery cases" which had not yet been linked to existing …

Fiji was once first in line for an Aussie travel bubble, now it's battered by COVID. What happened?
3 years, 6 months ago

Fiji was once first in line for an Aussie travel bubble, now it's battered by COVID. What happened?

ABC  

As the Pacific's most mature and developed economy, Fiji has endured a bruising 12 months. The Reserve Bank of Fiji estimates the economy contracted by 19 per cent last year, a number that would presage societal collapse if it were recorded here in Australia. Fiji has now recorded close to 900 cases in this outbreak, with half of those cases …

Fiji's capital Suva goes into COVID-19 lockdown after quarantine facility soldiers spread infection
3 years, 8 months ago

Fiji's capital Suva goes into COVID-19 lockdown after quarantine facility soldiers spread infection

ABC  

Fiji's capital Suva has entered a 14-day lockdown as the Pacific island nation battles to contain a COVID-19 spike. Key points: The outbreak began with a soldier who worked at a quarantine facility A maid then exposed up to 500 people at a funeral About 100,000 people in Suva, Fiji's capital, are now in lockdown About 100,000 people in the …

As more Pacific countries record COVID-19 cases, some governments are rethinking their coronavirus strategy
4 years, 1 month ago

As more Pacific countries record COVID-19 cases, some governments are rethinking their coronavirus strategy

ABC  

Vanuatu has joined just a handful of Pacific countries with active COVID-19 cases. Key points: Vanuatu doesn't have enough test kits and is prioritising people from medium- and high-risk areas Vanuatu doesn't have enough test kits and is prioritising people from medium- and high-risk areas Cases in Tahiti surged a month after it opened its borders to international tourists in …

Pacific nations stay vigilant against coronavirus in cyclone's aftermath
4 years, 8 months ago

Pacific nations stay vigilant against coronavirus in cyclone's aftermath

India Today  

A powerful cyclone that hit the Pacific Island nations this week bringing death, injuries and destruction cannot be allowed to disrupt containment efforts against the spread of the coronavirus, officials in the region said. Cyclone Harold, a Category 5 storm with winds in excess of 251 km/h passed through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, cutting power and destroying …

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