A large secured motorcade with all the emergency services that Tongatapu could muster, delivered the first 58 repatriated Tongans to the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel this afternoon. Tonga is protecting its CoViD-19 free status.

Led by Tonga Police, the motorcade secured seven buses carrying the 58 people who had arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport just after 1:00pm on a Fiji Airways chartered flight. The motorcade included an ambulance, Ministry of Health vehicles, His Majesty's Armed Forces military, the Fire Service, the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), Tonga Police Search and Rescue, and other government agencies.

At the hotel entrance man in surgical scrubs had a megaphone to help passengers disembark from the buses. Some of the support agencies' staff were wearing masks and rubber gloves, and around the roadblocks the support services were wearing an array of protective clothing from raincoats to modified black rubbish bags.

Police have blocked off Vuna Road and part of Tupoulahi Road near the hotel and a wire fence has been erected on the waterfront area to keep the public away.

The Minister for Health, Hon Dr ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu said this morning that about 30 of the passengers were returning doctors, nurses and their families. The spare seats were filled by government employees who were stranded in Fiji, including students who had completed their studies, she said.

The passengers were tested for CoViD-19 in Fiji last Friday and the results received the next day were all negative.

It is understood the soldiers will stand guard outside the hotel while passengers remain quarantined inside for two-weeks.

The passengers were to be tested again for CoViD-19 today with results to be announced soon.

Restricted area

Under Emergency Management Act restrictions, members of the public are prohibited from entering the hotel and an area marked by cordon lines and road blocks around the Tanoa Hotel. The restrictions will remain in force until July 29.

Essential hotel staff, emergency officers and medical emergency officers, and authorised officers are exempt from the restriction.

- Linny Folau and Eleanor Gee reporting for Matangi Tonga Online.