Lockdown restrictions for Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai will ease further over the next two-weeks starting at 5:01am on Saturday, 23 April.

Restaurants and Nuku'alofa's main Talamahu Market will be allowed to re-open and have sit-in dining but must follow strict health protocols.

The Acting Prime Minister Hon Poasi Tei announced this during a virtual press conference this afternoon, 22 April.

He reported that over the last 24 hours, 85 COVID-19 new cases were recorded for Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai, with the total number of active cases dropping to 1,227 while 8,306 people had recovered from the virus out of 9,553 total cases.

Tongatapu has 724 cases, Vava’u 402 and Ha’apai 101, while ‘Eua and the two Niuas have no cases. Deaths due to COVID-19 remained at 11.

The eased restrictions followed a decrease in daily COVID-19 cases over the last week.

He said all three islands remain on the current orange lockdown level.

Dining-in is allowed in restaurants but they must adhere to two metres of social distancing and wearing masks.

Police and health authorities will monitor them and if they are observed not following COVID-19 protocols, they will be closed down.

Bars and kava drinking clubs will remain closed. Schools also remain closed, he said.

"If the COVID-19 numbers remain satisfactory and people continue to adhere to the health regulation, I believe that after two weeks the regulations will be eased further."

In addition, churches are allowed to hold services on Sundays only but must ensure their congregations adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

Night-time curfew will be moved to start from 10:00pm to 5:00am.

'Eua ferries will start taking passengers on Saturday, 23 April.

COVID-19 vaccination

The Minister of Health Hon. Dr Saia Piukala said so far, 98% of the target population over the age of 12 had received their first doses, 91% had received their second doses, and while 56% had received their booster shots in Tonga.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination had started for 5-11 years old and 5 percent have had their first doses.

"We are still in the orange level but we, at health, wish that after two weeks the booster vaccination and kids vaccinations are above 70 percent."

Most had recovered and returned to working and their livelihoods as the level of the number of positive cases was now satisfactory.

The Minister said, it had been around 11 weeks since we got the first cases of omicron and thanked the people of Tonga for working together and obeying health regulations, so that we had reached this level in order to ease more restrictions.

There is only one COVID case in Mu’a Health Centre.

"We plan that when this person is released we will decontaminate the clinic and revert it back to be used as a normal clinic for the eastern district."

Meanwhile, there are currently 12 people COVID positive in Vaiola Hospital,  some are in the maternity ward and are fine. No one is in ICU, said the Minister.