By Eleanor Gee

The COVID-19 virus has reached Ha’apai, with 29 positive cases confirmed out of the 126 people who travelled from Nuku’alofa to the outer islands, last week.

Meanwhile, a total of 363 new cases were recorded in the whole of Tonga over a 24 hour period up to 6:00am today, bringing the total number of active cases in Tonga to 2,919.

Positive cases in Tonga are forecast to peak at 1,000 cases per day by mid-April.

Yesterday, the Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala said the health team based in Ha'apai was monitoring the positive while they are in quarantine. Those who had tested positive for COVID-19 will remain in quarantine for 10 days starting from the day they tested positive. All had previously tested negative when they left Tongatapu.

2919 active cases

Hon Dr Piukala said that around 1,812 of active COVID-19 cases are young people aged 20 to 39 years, with 86 cases people aged 70 and over.

“The COVID-19 hotspots are in Ma’ufanga, Tofoa, Vaini, Kolomotu’a, and Havelu.”

So far 1,609 people have recovered from the virus. The total number of accumulative COVID-19 cases in Tonga now stands at 4,537.

Hon Dr Piukala said that a total of 4,065 cases were recorded in Tongatapu.

Vava’u recorded 108 cases, 42 had recovered, nine were currently in isolation facilities and 57 were in home isolation.

Deaths

He said there have been three deaths due to COVID-19 while six other deaths of COVID-19 positive people were due to underlying illnesses.

However, the Ministry is working with the World Health Organization and SPC to finalize the criteria to determine COVID-19 positive deaths.

Meanwhile, 98% of Tonga’s target population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 90% have received their second dose.

At least 47% of the target population have now received booster shots.

COVID-19 cases expected to peak

Positive cases in Tonga are forecast to peak at 1,000 cases per day in the second or third week next month according to analysis, he said.

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases, the Ministry of Health is now transitioning its focus from containment to mitigation measures to ensure health services are not overwhelmed by COVID-19.

Mitigation measures include focusing on people who are vulnerable to the virus due to underlying illnesses and the lockdown to slow the spread of the virus.

The Minister urged people to take the Omicron variant seriously and said although most of the cases are young, there is a high risk to those who are vulnerable to the virus.

Repatriates

Meanwhile, 119 repatriates were released from MIQ on Tuesday, 22 March however 16 were continuing their quarantine, with some expected to be released over the weekend and others next week.

Hon. Dr Piukala said 11 are staying in Makeke and five in Taliai Camp.