Domestic rainwater tanks are often contaminated and unsafe to drink if not managed and cleaned regularly, a recent study has shown. Conducted by Tonga's Ministry of Health, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Asian Development Bank, the study found drinking water is often contaminated with E. coli.
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Results for Tonga Ministry of Health
Tuesday 28 November 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 23 September 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Around 40,000 doses of the COVID-19 MRNA Moderna vaccine donated by the Government of Spain arrived in Tonga on 22 September.
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Thursday 12 May 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
There were 941 active COVID-19 cases recorded in Tonga, at 10 May, with the majority (479) located on Tongatapu. Since Sunday, May 8, new cases have dropped to under 50 daily.
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Thursday 17 March 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two more people who were COVID-19 positive have died, the Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola confirmed today, March 17. Meanwhile, Government has yet to confirm their decision on whether or not to impose another lockdown, while cases are doubling in Tonga.
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Friday 11 March 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
COVID-19 positive active cases are more than doubling every week in Tonga, reaching 940 active cases today. A fortnight ago there were 176 active cases, and last week 411 active cases. The current COVID-19 restrictions in Tonga continue for another week. There has been a second death of a COVID positive case with a pre-existing medical condition.
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Saturday 26 February 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Sixty-eight new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Tonga since the last report on February 23, including 42 in Hu‘atolitoli Prison, one in Vava‘u, and 25 in Tongatapu, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told a press conference on Friday, February 25.
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Tuesday 1 February 2022
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Nomuka health clinic in Ha’apai, destroyed by tsunamis on January 15, is now operating temporarily out of a school in Nomuka, the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, said today. Another health clinic that was damaged at Sopu, Tongatapu, has been closed.
Tuesday 25 January 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Only underground water supplied by the Tonga Water Board may be used for bottled water that is processed in Tonga, to sell for public consumption, the Ministry of Health said on Monday, Jan 17.
The restriction was introduced following the volcanic eruption at Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai islands on Jan. 15, which spread tons of ash over Tonga, affecting water tanks collection. Meanwhile, some water processing companies had filtered water reserves in their tanks that was in heavy demand after the eruption.
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Friday 29 October 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's health officials have not yet confirmed one COVID-positive test from a passenger who arrived in Tonga from Christchurch on the evening of Wednesday 27 October. No official announcement has been made but a statement from the Prime Minister's Office is expected later today, Friday
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Tuesday 31 August 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A container of 200,000 N95 masks donated from Australia has been welcomed by the Ministry of Health today, 31 August 2021.
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Saturday 15 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this morning, Saturday 15 May 2021, at Vaiola Hospital, in Tongatapu.
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Tuesday 20 April 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 78 locations across Tongatapu where people can get vaccinated for COVID-19 on set dates were confirmed by the Ministry of Health today. The vaccination program, which started on 19 April in Kolomotu'a, will run up to next month ending at ‘Atata Island on 8 May.
Tuesday 9 February 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga could receive the CoViD-19 vaccine “maybe at the end of the first quarter or beginning of the second quarter of the year,” the Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa, said today, 9 February. Home quarantine was no longer allowed, because 27 people had breached the rules, out of 1,624 repatriates.
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Tuesday 22 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The 25 repatriated passengers from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have all tested negative for CoViD-19 and are now on one week home quarantine for added safety, confirmed Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola yesterday.
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Friday 24 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The national CoViD-19 restrictions are extended for another week to Friday, 1 May, the Prime Minister Hon Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa announced today, 24 April. Some CoViD-19 testing kits arrived on an Air New Zealand flight yesterday and Tonga's CoViD-19 Testing Machine will be in operation soon.
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Tuesday 21 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The second CoViD-19 testing machine and testing kits are among medical supplies due to arrive in Tonga on Thursday, 23 April on an Air New Zealand flight.
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Thursday 16 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first CoViD-19 PCR testing machine and one x-ray unit arrived in Tonga by container ship on Saturday, 11 April, along with 36 hospital beds donated by a Tongan family, the Ministry of Health confirmed this afternoon. However, the machine cannot be used until testing kits arrive.
Saturday 11 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has this week announced NZ$4 million to the Government of Tonga in general budget support. This is in addition to NZ$100,000 previously provided and another NZ$1 million to be given to Tonga’s Ministry of Health to support implementing its CoViD-19 prevention plan.
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Tuesday 7 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three CoViD-19 testing machines and 2000 test kits are expect to arrive in Tonga later this month, although it is still uncertain how they will get here. Meanwhile, the Health CEO warned against public scaremongering: "When people try to force authorities not to accept donations like PPEs to help us fight CoViD-19, it is like the public forcing someone to use a fork and spoon to fight a lion."
Friday 3 January 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A low number of 16 new measles cases occurred in the last week, according to a Tonga situation report issued on 2 January 2020. This brings the total number of confirmed or suspected measles cases to 612 since the outbreak began in October 2019 with around 96% estimated to have recovered.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.