Tonga one of six CoViD free countries in Pacific [1]
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - 20:58. Updated on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 - 09:41.
Tonga is now one of six countries in the Pacific region to remain CoViD-19 free to date.
Six Pacific Island countries that are dependencies or territories also remain CoViD-19 free.
Samoa was the most recent Pacific Island to report CoViD-19 cases.
Outside of the Pacific region, North Korea and Turkmenistan are the only countries that have not reported any cases of the virus to the World Health Organisation to date. However, questions remain around their claims due to being authoritarian states.
CoViD-19 free countries include:
- Tonga
- Nauru
- Tuvalu
- Palau
- Republic of ;Micronesia
- Kiribati
No reported cases of CoViD-19:
- North Korea
- Turkmenistan
Other dependencies or territories in the Pacific region that also do not have the virus include:
- American Samoa (USA)
- Cook Islands (partly New Zealand)
- Niue (partly New Zealand)
- Tokelau (New Zealand)
- Pitcairn Islands (UK)
- Norfolk Islands (Australia)
CoViD-19 surge in Papua New Guinea
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is facing an upsurge in CoViD-19 cases.
As of 24 March, according to WHO, PNG recorded 1,630 new cases and 39 deaths over seven days from 17 to 23 March, and 4,109 cumulative cases.
Whereas the Johns Hopkins University CoViD map [2] states there have been 5,349 cumulative cases and 49 deaths as at 30 March.
Australia's ABC [3] reported yesterday that PNG’s health system is now in a “perpetual state of disaster”. A sporting complex in Port Moresby has been transformed into a field hospital to treat moderate and mild cases.
New Zealand ministers to receive COVID-19 vaccine
New Zealand government ministers with a health or CoViD-19 focus will receive their first dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech CoViD-19 vaccine in different areas over the next two weeks.
A media statement from the Minsiter for CoViD-19 Response, Hon Chris Hipkins said today they are aware there are groups who might be initially reluctant to receive the vaccine because of questions related to safety and science, and the ministers are receiving the vaccine to publicly reinforce its safety and effectiveness.
"It is also a show of support for our frontline health workforce, which has recently begun receiving vaccinations."
The ministers will attend planned vaccination events.
Meanwhile, other political parties MPs with health and CoViD-19 focused portfolios have also been invited to be vaccinated to demonstrate cross-party support for the vaccine and frontline healthcare workforce.