Changes to requirements for incoming passengers to Tonga will be considered on Friday, ahead of the next repatriation flights to Tonga that were scheduled for January 18 and 20.

Tonga suspended incoming repatriation flights in November and December because of community transmission of COVID-19 at the departure points.

MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u told Matangi Tonga today that recommendations are being prepared for the new Cabinet, including "few changes to the protocols/requirements for incoming passengers".

Tonga's National Emergency Management and COVID-19 Committee will meet this Friday, January 7, to make recommendations to Cabinet for the next repatriation flights.

Repatriation flights have been tentatively scheduled to arrive in Tonga on January 18 from Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji (for stranded passengers) and, possibly, Samoa.

A repatriation flight from New Zealand is also tentative for January 20.

MEIDECC reports that 3,122 people have been repatriated to Tonga since the border restrictions began in March 2020.

The last repatriation flight to Tonga from New Zealand arrived on October 27 with 215 passengers.

Meanwhile, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly in Australia and Fiji.