Results for COVID-19

The Asian Development Bank has allocated $20.3 million to assist its developing members to access CoViD-19 vaccines and establish systems for fair and efficient vaccine distribution.

Seventeen people are now in managed quarantine in Samoa, after a CoViD-19 infected container ship passed through Apia on the weekend. Meanwhile, Vanuatu has recorded its first CoViD-19 case, and Solomon Islands has seen more COVID cases arriving.

All passengers repatriated to Tonga from Auckland and Brisbane tested negative for CoViD-19 after arrival, said Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola this afternoon.

The Australian Government has committed an additional $500 million to supporting access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia through a range of advance purchase agreements with manufacturers and through participation in the multilateral COVAX Facility.

The first repatriation flight to Tonga from Brisbane, Australia with 80 passengers arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport this afternoon, 29 October.

All 141 passengers repatriated from Christchurch, New Zealand earlier this month have tested negative for CoViD-19 confirmed Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. Another 230 repatriated passengers are expected to arrive later this week from Brisbane and Auckland.

At the start of the year, when COVID-19 was ravaging Wuhan, China, and beginning to envelop the West, I warned that the crisis would likely be replicated across much of the developing world, with significant long-term consequences for us all. Sadly, this prediction was correct....At the global level, the challenge is to ensure that vulnerable people everywhere are protected. Failing that, we will be entering a much more dangerous world, and the prospects for a robust global economic recovery will be severely diminished. By Kevin Rudd

CoViD-19 tests are now being offered at Vaiola Hospital for travellers after the Health Services regulation to include CoViD-19 test fees was Gazetted yesterday afternoon.

Tonga's Cabinet has approved fees for CoViD-19 testing for outbound passengers travelling from Tonga to another country, confirmed Attorney General Linda Folaumoetui today.