Tonga’s State of Emergency, COViD-19 restrictions extended to August [1]
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 20:26. Updated on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 20:39.
Tonga has renewed its State of Emergency, extending it for another month, from 8:00pm July 8 until 8:00pm August 4, Tonga's Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa declared this afternoon.
He said this because of the continuous spread of COViD-19 worldwide and in countries close to Tonga.
The Emergency Powers are considered necessary to be exercised to prevent or minimize risk and loss of lives due to the virus. This will be applied to all land and sea areas of Tonga.
Key restrictions are: NATIONAL COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS DIRECTIONS.pdf [2]
- Night-time curfews from midnight to 5:00am enforced by the Tonga Police, His Majesty's Armed Forces and relevant authorised officers.
- All activities and gatherings in Tonga shall
- not exceed the maximum number defined as mass gathering (not exceeding 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors);
- comply with social distancing (keeping 1.5m from any other person at all times); and
- comply with the Ministry of Health requirements for sanitation and hygiene (including personal hand hygiene).
- Funeral gatherings shall be restricted to a total of 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors with an authorised officer to be present throughout.
In addition, Tonga Police and His Majesty's Armed Forces and any authorised officers for the purposes of securing public safety and maintenance of public health shall have the power to enforce these directions.