195 active COVID-19 cases in Tonga [1]
Thursday, February 17, 2022 - 20:11. Updated on Thursday, February 17, 2022 - 20:17.
Tonga now has 195 active COVID-19 cases, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, confirmed today, Feb.17.
New positive cases include 30 people in Hu’atolitoli Prison, 25 among the newly arrived repatriates in MIQ, and 14 in the community.
Since the last update on February 14, another seven people have been discharged (two were discharged earlier bringing the total to 9) and another six have tested negative for the virus but remain in quarantine. The majority have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
The Prime Minister confirmed the virus has spread in the Hu'atolitoli Prison among correction officers and inmates. The cases were being separated, and the prison was continuing to operate as normal. Two wives of prison officers are also positive.
“However, HMAF and Police are prepared to provide support to the prison in case more people get sick.”
All correction officers and inmates have been fully vaccinated.
Minister for Health Hon. Saia Piukala said two positive cases were transferred to Mu’a Health Centre with other illnesses not related to COVID-19. “They are in a satisfactory condition.”
MIQ cases
Meanwhile, the 25 positive cases in MIQ are being tested again today. However, Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said only two of the cases in MIQ are considered to be infectious.
The other 23 cases are similar to the first case last year, which was considered to be a historical case.
“According to data, we expect 5% of all repatriated passengers nowadays to be infectious."
“So out of the 180 passengers that arrived, we expect 5% to be infectious. And so far, we think there’s only two. So that’s not a bad statistic.”
He confirmed all passengers had been fully vaccinated and had tested negative prior to arriving in Tonga.
Dr ‘Akau’ola confirmed these passengers were not on the flight from Fiji.
Vaccinations
Around 98% or 75,714 people, of Tonga’s eligible population of 76,911 have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
And 90% or 68,851 people, have had their second doses, while 12,367 people have had boosters.
Hon. Dr Piukala said the number of unvaccinated people had dropped to 1,197 as at this morning.
Vaccination programs will also be taken to Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua to continue inoculations, including booster shots.
While no positive case had been critically ill so far, the Minister for Health said they also have the support of the Australian navy ship, HMAS Adelaide, which standing off Nuku'alofa.
“The ship has 40 beds and three operating rooms. They can help if any emergencies happen right now.”
Govt. considers making everyone do the same thing on the same days
The government is considering expanding the days business services can operate, instead of only Tuesdays and Fridays during the lockdown period.
Questions were raised because the restriction has caused crowds of people to concentrate in long queues, in places where they are exposed to other people for greatly extended periods of time. While, normally, when they choose their own shopping days, they would not have to spend so much time there.
The Prime Minister said currently businesses operated on these days in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, which included social distancing of 2 metres and wearing masks.
"Obviously, there are some places that can't and it's the responsiblity of Police and the Ministry of Health to talk to these places."
“With regards to two days versus five days, that is one of the things we are looking at moving forward. What is the risk for people for those two days versus opening for more days?”
He gave an example that today maybe the banks could have opened for those people to use Western Union and Moneygram to do that today and do their shopping tomorrow.
So, we are looking at all those options based on our experience learned so far in order to reduce the possibility of the virus spreading,” he said.
“But we are learning as we go, if it’s two days or if we will spread services such as gas on Monday, shops on Tuesdays, on Wednesdays the banks, in order to reduce the spread.”
But it was not immediately clear how that would work to reduce the crowds.