Results for COVID-19

129 repatriated passengers arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport from Auckland, New Zealand this afternoon, December 9.

Two crew members of the cargo ship MV Island Chief that arrived in Fiji on 2 December 2020 have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation at the Navua Hospital. Fiji officials who boarded the vessel and their close contacts are also in quarantine, Fiji's Dr James Fong said today. The vessel's last port of call was Nuku'alofa in Tonga on 30 November,

Last week saw the first decline in newly-reported cases globally since September, said World Health Organisation Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on 30 November, while warning that gains can easily be lost. He cautioned holiday makers that being with family and friends “is not worth putting them or yourself at risk”.

Australia supports Tonga in joining a global campaign to end gender based violence starting today, 25 November, the International Day for Elimination of Gender-Based Violence.

Tonga’s Declaration of a State of Emergency has been renewed from 8:00pm 23 November to 8:00pm 21 December due to the continuous spread of CoViD-19 around the world. National CoViD-19 restrictions have also been renewed for the same period.

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.