Tonga reduces quarantine to five days from June 1 [1]
Thursday, May 19, 2022 - 23:32. Updated on Thursday, May 19, 2022 - 23:33.
Tonga's quarantine and isolation days will be reduced to five-days, starting on 1 June, as COVID-19 cases continue a downward trend.
The Minister of Health Hon. Dr Saia Piukala said positive cases recorded in the last three weeks had remained under 100 daily.
On 18 May there were 46 new cases recorded in Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai. The number of active cases dropped to 677.
The three positive cases recorded in Niuafo’ou had recovered.
“That is significant in the work that is being done to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 here and that is also testimony to the good work done by members of the community, the Ministry of Health and all stakeholders."
Meanwhile, vaccination rates stand at 98% for the first dose, 91% for second dose and 58% for booster doses.
Vaccination for children between the ages of five and 11-years old had increased to 41%.
Quarantine and isolation days will be reduced to five days starting with the next repatriation flight on 1 June.
Passengers who came on the repatriation flights last week from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji were released on 18 May, after completing their seven-days quarantine.
Government also announced that special flights had been approved to enable visits to Tonga by China's Minister of Foreign Affairs and a Minister of Tourism from Saudi Arabia.
Appropriate COVID-19 protocols will be used.