By Eleanor Gee

Tonga is lifting a restriction to allow repatriation of over 300 passengers from New Zealand and Vanuatu next week.

Changes to repatriation protocols of stranded passengers to Tonga were outlined by the new Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala this morning, 14 January, and include repatriating from countries with COVID-19 in the community.

Changes to repatriation protocols for Tongans and others stranded overseas, were outlined by Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala this morning, 14 January at Vaiola Hospital.

“We have our family overseas who are wondering when they will get to back to Tonga,” he said. "It's been almost two years since COVID-19."

One of the policies they are changing is a requirement that passengers were allowed to come to Tonga only from countries with no COVID-19 community transmission.

“We have decided to lift that restriction and that’s why the committee and the government has agreed for the repatriation flight from New Zealand on 20 January. Even though there is community transmission there, the COVID-19 cases have dropped in New Zealand.”

While there are new cases with the new variant Omicron there, the Minister said these cases were at the border or in quarantine facilities, which "will help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 getting into Tonga”.

Another new protocol is that passengers must self-quarantine at home for one week before they travel.

“Although there is no one to monitor them, I believe it is important to those in New Zealand who want to return to follow the protocol advice that has been given to them.”

Passengers must be tested for COVID-19, 48 hours prior to the flight and if they test positive "that person will not be able to board the flight to Tonga".

In addition, passengers must be fully vaccinated (with two doses) for COVID-19 before they can be repatriated to Tonga.

People are also not allowed to purchase alcohol at the airport to bring on the flight, however, the Minister said they can purchase alcohol using their boarding passes when they complete their quarantine time in Tonga.

Repatriation flights

Around 300 passengers are expected to arrive from New Zealand next week on 20 January and eight from Vanuatu on 18 January.

There are two flights from Vanuatu, a chartered flight with six passengers and a small surveyor flight with two passengers.

Hon. Dr Piukala said work is underway to also organize a repatriation flight from Samoa.

He added that because the COVID-19 situation in Vanuatu and Samoa is similar to Tonga, the quarantine time for people repatriated from these countries will be reduced to two weeks “to be on the safe side”.

Meanwhile, the government is still being cautious organizing repatriation flights from countries with increasing COVID-19 cases.

“The repatriation flights from Australia and Fiji have been cancelled due to the new Omicron variant spreading in their communities,” he said.

Stranded in Fiji

For those stranded in Fiji, the Minister said they are working on a safe way to repatriate them.

“We are planning for a Ministry of Health taskforce to collaborate with the SPC [Pacific Community], this is the focal point from Fiji, to look at the safest way to repatriate those stranded in Fiji.”

“There are passengers who have been stranded there since last March and April and I can understand the impact on them mentally and the concern they have to return, but it’s our responsibility, the Ministry of Health and the government, to ensure we can repatriate them in the safest possible way.”

The Minister also stressed the importance for people in Tonga to get vaccinated for COVID-19 to better protect themselves and their families should COVID-19 reach Tonga.