Tonga’s lockdown orange level restrictions will ease further with gyms, bars, and kava clubs allowed to open, starting from Saturday May 7, confirmed Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku today during a press conference.

However, bars and kava clubs will need to apply for approval from the Ministry of Health with their COVID-19 compliance plan. Nightclubs are still closed.

“All government workers will return to work as normal next week,” said the Prime Minister.

The eased restrictions will also see students in Forms 2, 5, 6, and 7 returning to the classrooms next week. This includes tertiary and university students.

Students in forms 3, 4, and in primary school will remain at home at this stage.

Public transport will also start operating next week and all passengers must wear masks.

People can also play sports such as volleyball and pickleball except for contact sports such as rugby union, rugby league, and netball.

Hon Hu’akavameiliku said the Ministry of Health will discuss with the various sporting federations of contact sports how the sport can be played in a safe way that will not spread COVID-19.

Funerals and marriages, including birthday events are no longer restricted however, people must follow COVID-19 protocols including social distancing. Health officials are still required to monitor these events to ensure people abide by the protocols.

The night-time curfew will start from 11:00pm to 5:00am.

The eased restrictions will start at 5:01am on May 7 up to 5:00am Saturday May 21 for Tongatapu, Vava'u, and Ha'apai.

The declaration of a state of emergency has also been renewed by the Prime Minister from 8:00am Sunday, May 8 up to 8:00am Sunday, June 5.

Quarantine days reduced

The quarantine period has been reduced from 10 days to seven days confirmed Hon Hu’akavameiliku, and essential staff who have had COVID-19 will quarantine for three days.

He said this was approved by the National Emergency Management Committee.

“Essential staff are those who were approved to work during the hard lockdown. After three days in quarantine, they must have a PCR test and test negative before they are released.”

Repatriates arriving next week are only required to quarantine for seven days. There are three repatriation flights arriving on May 11 from Australia and New Zealand and May 12 from Fiji.

COVID-19 cases

Minister for Health Hon. Saia Piukala said there were 61 new COVID-19 cases yesterday for the whole of Tonga.

Over the last five days, new daily cases reported have been under 100. There are 1,133 active cases, with 596 in Tongatapu, 442 in Vava’u, and 95 in Ha’apai. The death toll due to COVID-19 remains at 11.

“The low COVID-19 numbers are due to the great job the Ministry of Health and the people of Tonga are doing,” said Hon Piukala.

“However, we must continue to wear our masks, wash our hands or use hand sanitizer, and practice social distancing.”

The most important is to get vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccination

The vaccination rate for 5 to 11 year olds is slow moving with only 27% receiving their first dose as at May 6.

Around 98% of the target population over the age of 12 have received their first doses, 91% have had second doses, while 57% have had their booster shots

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Download the restrictions and the renewed state of emergency declaration below:

NationalCOVID19Restrictions (English).pdf [2]

NationalCOVID19Restrictions(Tongan).pdf [2]

Renewal of declaration of state of emergency Gaz.Ext_.No_.24-2022.pdf [2]

Restrictions Directions(HTHH)-1.pdf [2]