New COVID cases hit 300 a day, during first week of hard lockdown [1]
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - 21:36. Updated on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 - 21:42.
By Linny Folau and Eleanor Gee
People on Tongatapu and Vava’u are currently under a one week ‘hard lockdown’ after a spike in the number COVID-19 cases, which reached 2376 active cases in the past 24-hours. With all shops closed, Tonga Red Cross said that most people had prepared for the week lockdown, which started on Sunday morning.
Since then they had received about 20 calls from people who needed supplies.
The Ministry of Health reported 366 new cases of COVID-19 as of 6:00am March 22. This is the first time the new cases hit the 300 mark, in a day.
Meanwhile, Government enforced the hard lockdown starting from 5:00am Sunday, March 20 for a week to try curb the rapidly increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases.
The night-time curfew was also moved to 8:00pm-8:00am for both islands.
Therefore, all services such all retail and wholesale businesses, banks, gas stations, bread shops and schools are closed. 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 are allowed to move for these needs only from 8:00pm to 8:00am.
Other essential services operating this week are health, police, court, HMAF, and NEMO, among others.
Enforcement
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police ‘Atunaisa Taumopeau said this morning that this hard lockdown had closed shops for a week.
Before this, shops were open daily with some businesses operating.
He said closing the shops limited peoples' movement, apart from what was deemed essential under the restrictions.
Police had since Sunday enforced three main checkpoints on the central, eastern and western districts.
“We have also beefed up our visibility on the road by increasing our number of patrol vehicles 24/7 on the roads,” he said.
Reports so far showed people were obedient and adhering to the restrictions.
“However, there are still those who are breaching the restrictions and have been charged,” he said.
“Police visibility is important and apart from our own patrol, we are assisted by HMAF and there are also the community patrol posts.”
Food supply
As for those who may have not been able to afford to stock up on food supplies for a week, who do they call if their cupboard is bare?
Tonga Red Cross Secretary-General Sione Taumoefolau said this morning he believed that most people had prepared for the lockdown.
He said since the lockdown Red Cross received around 20 calls of those needing some supplies, most of them had been in isolation and could not go out shopping last week.
“They mainly called for water and some food supplies. Other calls we received were for tents for displaced people who had moved out of the community halls,” he said.
“But, most people have prepared for the lockdown.”
During delivery, Tonga Red Cross drops off supplies on the roadside in front of people’s homes. People can call Tonga Red Cross or NEMO if they are desperate for food, he added.
- Tonga Red Cross Phone: 21360
- NEMO: Phone: 26340, 28242, toll free: 08006366