Tonga has extended its State of Emergency for another month until May 15, due to the continuous spread of CoViD-19 globally, including Tonga's neighbouring countries the Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa announced this afternoon. Eased restrictions also come into effect starting at 8:00pm 17 April to 8:00pm 24 April, when they will be reviewed.

The State of Emergency applies to all the land and sea areas of Tonga starting today, from 8pm April 17 to 8pm May 15, unless further renewed.

The extension is made pursuant to sections 32 and 34(l) of the Emergency Management Act 2007.

The emergency powers are to be exercised in order to prevent or minimize risk and the loss of human life to CoViD-19.

New Restrictions

The revised restrictions notice has shortened the night-time national curfew to 9pm-5am, to be enforced by Tonga Police, His Majesty’s Armed Forces and relevant authorised officers.

People can now attend church services and church events on Sundays only, with Seventh Day Adventists allowed to gather on Saturdays.

However, there was a bit of confusion over the declaration by the PM when, after allowing churches and schools to gather, all other events and gatherings such as bingo, sports clubs, gyms, sporting events, birthday celebrations, marriages and other recreatrional are prohibited.

Schools opened this week, and even though the social distancing is still enforced but bus loads of students are on the roads again. Students are also on the streets before and after school, obviously not practising social distancing. It is hard to imagine that they are maintaining the required 1.5m distance between each other in schools.

There was no satisfactory explanation from Cabinet ministers who were at the Press Conference, other than the opening of schools might enable teachers to teach children how to wash their hands and to keep their social distances.

For funerals the numbers have been increased to a total of 20 people indoors and 40 people outdoors, with an authorised officer to be present throughout.

While liquor licensed night clubs, clubs, bars and kava clubs shall be closed.

People are required to continue practicing social distancing of 1.5 metres from any person at all times and use protective clothing such as handkerchiefs, gloves, garments or equipment designed to minimise the risk of an infection where possible.

Personal hand hygiene should be practiced and people are to follow all Public Health Advisories issued by the Ministry of Health with regards to CoViD-19.

Flights diversions

There is also confusion over the flight diversions. When Tonga first closed its borders on March 23, the Ministry of Health was reviewing the flight diversions weekly, and listing diverted flights.

The Prime Minister's press statement [2] this afternoon mentioned that incoming passenger flights to Tonga will be diverted until “12 June.”

However, the Government's National CoViD-19 Restrictions Notice, read at the press conference by Acting Deputy Police Commissioner 'Atunaisa Taumoepeau, and posted on the PMO website, makes no mention of the flight diversions date.

Meanwhile, many Tongans who were stranded overseas by the sudden closure of Tongans borders, do not know when they might be allowed to return home to Tonga. Some who were planning only short trips abroad have been caught in difficult situations abroad.

- By Pesi Fonua