Tonga's declaration of a State of Emergency and the national CoViD-19 restrictions have been extended from 8:00pm 26 October to 8:00pm 23 November due to the ongoing spread of CoViD-19 worldwide.

The Health State of Emergency was first declared by the Prime Minister, Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa on March 12 earlier this year. Since then, it has been renewed on a monthly basis, as part of the effort to prevent or minimize the spread of CoViD-19 within Tonga.

The key national CoViD-19 restrictions are:

• 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:
  1. not exceed the maximum number defined as mass gathering (not exceeding 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors except for religious services and education institutions);
  2. comply with social distancing (keeping 1.5m from any other person at all times); and
  3. comply with the Ministry of Health requirements for sanitation and 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.

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.

CoViD-19 accelerating worldwide

The World Health Organization reports that globally, as of 5:06pm CET, 26 October 2020, there have been 42,966,344 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 1,152,604 deaths, reported to WHO.

Last week saw the highest number of CoViD-19 cases reported so far, said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on 26 October at a media briefing.

"Many countries in the northern hemisphere are seeing a concerning rise in cases and hospitalisations. And intensive care units are filling up to capacity in some places, particularly in Europe and North America."

The Director General stressed that when leaders act quickly and deliberately, the virus can be suppressed.

"But, where there has been political division at the national level; where there has been blatant disrespect for science and health professionals, confusion has spread and cases and deaths have mounted. This is why I have said repeatedly: stop the politicisation of CoViD-19."