By Linny Folau

A hard lockdown will be enforced at 5:00am Sunday, 20 March for one week to try to curb the rapidly increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, which has over the last 24-hours recorded 258 new cases.

The Prime Minister Hon Hu'akavameiliku announced the lockdown, during a press conference via zoom this morning.

He said the night time curfew will be moved to 8:00pm-8:00am for both Tongatapu and Vava'u.

Cabinet decided to revert to red alert from orange alert on the advice of the Ministry of Health, following the continuing increase of positive cases recorded on Tongatapu and Vava’u and the need for Health teams to regroup, he said.

Therefore, all services such all retail and wholesale business, banks, gas stations, bread shops and schools will be closed next week.

He said the only exceptions are those needing to go to the pharmacies and hospital. Also for those needing to go plantation and fishing for their daily necessities. People will only be allowed to move for these needs from 8:00am to 8:00pm during this new lockdown period, he said.

“Those who do go to pharmacies must also prove they went there by presenting receipts at checkpoints. Other people moving around during this time will be monitored by authorities.”

Meanwhile, Government services will be closed except for essential services, with respective CEOs to liaise with the Public Service Commission on work programs.

International ships and flights can still arrive in Tonga next week.

“This is important so that food and goods can still be imported to Tonga and shops stay stocked up,” said the PM.

Distribution

The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Poasi Tei said the distribution of assistance sent from overseas currently at the Queen Salote Wharf would continue during this hard lockdown.

The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and the Ministry of Customs and Revenue will be working closely together to ensure that members of the public who need to collect their items are allowed to do so, under strict health protocols.

A total of 351 containers of assistance sent from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, United States of America and American Samoa, have been released so far.

Download the National COVID-19 restrictions:

NationalCOVID19RestrictionsDirections(English)(180322).pdf [2]

NationalCOVID19RestrictionsDirections(Tongan)(180322).pdf [3]