By Eleanor Gee

With a little help from the Tongan tug boat, Australian Defence Force staff docked the HMAS Adelaide themselves, at Vuna Wharf in Tonga, yesterday, after fears over COVID-19 transmission. There are 29 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on board the ship that berthed at 6:39 pm, Jan. 26.

Crew rode in a small boat to bring the rope to tie up the ship and then went back on board the Adelaide.

“Those who will do this work have all been confirmed to be negative,” said the Minister for Health, Hon. Dr Saia Piukala.

He said the positive cases on the ship remained in isolation, together with their contacts.

There were concerns in the community that COVID-19 might be introduced to Tonga by incoming disaster relief ships, including the Adelaide. The Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni said this was why they held the press conference before the Adelaide docked.

He said at the moment, there was also a ship from Great Britain (UK) delivering supplies including water, PPE, first aid kits, “and other things we requested assistance with.”

Minister for Health, Hon. Dr Saia Piukala said they had a meeting with the Australian High Commissioner and some of the Australian defence personnel who are in Tonga.

“Confirmation at this time is there are 29 positive cases on board the ship. The 29 are currently in isolation including close contacts, and altogether there are 42 of them. 

“This navy ship has the capacity to look after isolation and care for those who are positive. They have a full capacity hospital, there are 40 beds, three operating rooms, and they are equipped to look after those who are sick. 

These people who are sick are similar to our first case. The test is positive but there are no symptoms to suggest they are sick. They followed protocols using PCR tests before boarding the ship. And then they are tested using rapid antigen tests daily and that’s how they were confirmed [to have COVID-19],” he said.

“When they arrive in Tonga, we have an understanding and Australia respects protocols in Tonga, that no one will meet them, including the pilot vessel that meets ships from outside. The pilot will not board the ship. Tonga’s pilot vessel will lead the ship along the route.

He said that offloading the supplies, would all be done by the ship’s personnel.

“No one here will get close to them. It will be offloaded at Vuna Wharf, where the supplies will be quarantined for 72 hours or three days and then it will be released to be used."

Dr Piukala said the main reason they are allowed to come here is because of the protocols in Tonga.

“The Australian Government is happy as well as the defence personnel to follow. They do not want to be the ones to bring the pandemic to our country.’ When they finish offloading the supplies, the ship will depart.