Results for COVID-19

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.

COVID-19 is likely to have less impact on world trade in the Asia Pacific region than elsewhere in 2020, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

A total of 141 seasonal workers will be repatriated to Tonga from Christchurch, New Zealand, on a chartered flight on Friday, 9 October, confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma'u last night.

Yes, our isolation has been a distinct advantage, but keeping Tonga COVID-19 free, comes with much hard work at the borders to keep it that way. World Environmental Health Day reminds us of the importance of public health intervention in preventing people becoming ill with COVID-19. We are preparing for the novel coronavirus to reach our shores. No country is immune. By Sela Akolo Fa'u, Viliami Tongamana and Denise Tully.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll in terms of human lives and health, jobs, growth, and economic progress in Asia and the Pacific. Donors have pledged more than $4 billion to replenish Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) grant funds for the region during a virtual meeting on 16 September.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, scheduled for November in New Zealand, has been cancelled due to CoViD-19. However, Tonga is scheduled to play Samoa in a Rugby World Cup Repechage Qualifier match in November in Auckland.