Tonga is one of 18 countries in the world that is CoViD-19 free as of today, 3 April.

And 10 of these countries are located in the Pacific region, which now has the most countries without the virus.

CoViD-19 free countries include:

• Tonga
• Nauru
• Tuvalu
• Palau
• Marshall Islands
• Republic of Micronesia
• Kiribati
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Vanuatu
• Yemen
• North Korea
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Sao Tome & Principe
• South Sudan
• Lesotho
• Comoros

Other dependencies or territories in the Pacific region, such as American Samoa, Cook Islands, Wallis & Futuna, Niue, and Tokelau, also do not have the virus.

However, CoViD-19 has been found in the some Pacific Island countries and territories:

• French Polynesia (France) - 37
• Guam (USA) - 82
• New Caledonia (France) - 18
• Northern Mariana Islands (USA) - 6
• Fiji - 7
• Papua New Guinea - 1

Preventative measures

Tonga is adamant to keep the virus out of the country, introducing restrictive measures last month, as CoViD-19 spread to neighbouring countries. 

The kingdom has closed off its borders to commercial flights, cruise ships and yachts and has extended its lockdown, which started on 29 March to Sunday, 12 April.

A curfew is also in place from 8pm to 6am. People can only leave their homes to buy groceries, go to the hospital, pharmacy, and banks. Essential services are also in operation. 

According to the John Hopkins University database today, CoViD-19 has been found in 181 countries and regions, with over 1 million cases detected, and over 53,000 deaths.

The number of people now infected with CoViD-19 worldwide is assumed to be greater than the 1 million detected by tests and suspected symptoms,