At 11:59pm tonight Tonga's COVID restrictions will revert to what they were before last week's lockdown was imposed, the Prime Minister, Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa announced this afternoon.

The Acting Police Commissioner, Brigadier Lord Fielakepa, reminded the public that though the week-long lockdown restriction with extended curfew will end at 11:59pm tonight, but the other curfew that came into force on 25 October under the general Health emergency is still in force from 12:00 midnight until 5:00am.

No community transmission has been detected since a returning passenger tested positive for COVID-19 in managed isolation quarantine in Nuku'alofa on October 27.

Tongatapu started new lockdown retrictions on Tuesday November 2, with stricter social distancing measures enforced to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19. Everyone had to stay at home, except for services that were designated essential, while the curfew was extended to 8:00pm to 6:00am.

During the lockdown week November 2-8, further testing continued of the 215 passengers repatriated from Christchurch on October 27, and the frontliners who had attended to them.

Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said today that the frontliners were all free, and they had been tested in case there was a chance they had been infected. “We are still COVID-free so we have to be very careful and that was why we worked so hard on it,” he said.

The positive case is now believed to be a historical case, and he said the person will be allowed to go home after 21 days in quarantine.

Domestic and interisland transport services will be allowed to resume tomorrow, along with restaurants, and bars and other services.

The night curfew will go back to the hours from midnight to 5:00am, under the rules and restrictions for Tonga's Health State of Emergency.

Regarding the return of Tongans from overseas, the Prime Minister said today that the message is for people to get vaccinated. “The sooner, the better, or else we have to wait until we are all fully vaccinated,” he said.

Health State of Emergency

Meanwhile, Tonga’s Health State of Emergency has been renewed monthly and the current restrictions run from 8:00pm 25 October until 8:00pm November 22.

The Health State of Emergency was first declared by the Prime Minister on March 12, 2020 under the Emergency Management Act. 

Since then, it has been renewed on a monthly basis, and enforced by Tonga Police and His Majesty's Armed Forces.

See also: Tonga’s Health State of Emergency has been renewed for another month [2]