One new COVID-19 case, Tonga lockdown extended [1]
Friday, February 4, 2022 - 20:03. Updated on Monday, February 7, 2022 - 12:42.
By Eleanor Gee
One new COVID-19 case was confirmed today from more tests conducted yesterday and last night, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, said this afternoon.
“This brings the total of positive cases from 4 yesterday to a total of 5 today.”
The new case, who is fully vaccinated, was a co-worker of one of the primary cases who tested positive on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.
They are all in isolation at the moment, including the one person who had recovered and returned a negative test.
Minister for Health, Hon. Dr Saia Piukala said 726 COVID tests had been done to date.
After contact tracing, they were able to identify seven close contacts of the primary cases in home isolation, even though they tested negative to COVID, he said.
Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said the person who had recovered would be monitored and remain in isolation for 14 days.
Lockdown extended
Meanwhile, the government has extended the lockdown for another 48 hours, from 6:00pm today until 6:00pm Sunday, Feb. 6. The Niuas, in the far north, have been exempted from the lockdown.
However, limited services are allowed to operate tomorrow, Saturday Feb. 5, from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
Services that can operate, include petrol stations, shops, bank ATM’s, gas stations, bread shops, as well as roadside food vendors. The Tonga Development Bank will open for half a day.
“We realize that people will need access to supplies, so we have lifted the restrictions for shops from 6:00am to 6:00pm,” said the Prime Minister.
To limit the spread of COVID-19, only one person is allowed to travel to their local shops to pick up supplies. There will be checkpoints to ensure people comply.
People will also need to wear masks and practice social distancing of 2 metres.
The Prime Minister urged services that open tomorrow to ensure that people followed these protocols.
Police and Health officers will also be monitoring people’s movements.
The Ministry of Health is continuing to conduct surveillance in Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua due to one close contact travelling to Vava’u. These outer islands are also under lockdown.
Download restrictions here: National Covid Lockdown Restrictions Directions_English.pdf [2]
Vaccines
As at this morning, 97% of Tonga’s eligible population have now received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 87% are fully vaccinated, said Hon Dr Saia Piukala.
Around 2,530 eligible people, over the age of 12 years in Tonga are unvaccinated.
The Minister said 10,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are scheduled to arrive in Tonga on Saturday. These doses are for booster shots. Health confirmed the Pfizer vaccines are arriving from New Zealand.