A repatriation flight with 152 passengers arrived in Tonga on July 28 from Auckland, New Zealand. More than 3,000 people have been repatriated to Tonga since the border restrictions were imposed in March last year.
You are here
Results for COVID-19
Thursday 29 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 18,712 people have received the second dose of the COVID-19 Astra-Zeneca vaccine, since the second roll out program started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa.
Premium content
Monday 26 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Oceania is recording a surge in COVID-19 cases with 94,400 confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths reported at 25 July. Fiji is now reporting more new COVID-19 cases than any other Oceania country with 934 new infections on average each day. By Eleanor Gee.
Friday 23 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repatriation flight that was being discussed to come from Brisbane, Australia has been suspended until further notice, said MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma'u today.
Premium content
Thursday 22 July 2021
Suva, Fiji
Two pregnant women in their early 30s from Lami were among the 21 new COVID-19 deaths in Fiji reported as new infections and deaths surge there. Neither of the pregnant women had been vaccinated. “Maternal deaths due to COVID-19 are a clear indication of the severity of this outbreak,” said Fiji Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong, who urged Fijians to stay at home.
Wednesday 21 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An $11 million pa’anga Intensive Care Unit with five beds for critically ill patients with infectious diseases, including COVID-19, will be installed at Vaiola Hospital by March 2022. It will also facilitate remote telemedicine consultations with ICU specialist doctors and nurses in Japan, and ICU training.
Tuesday 20 July 2021
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A delivery of 9,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, manufactured in Australia, arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport today, July 20. These doses will be used for vulnerable groups on the outer island of Vava'u.
Tuesday 20 July 2021
Suva, Fiji
Fiji has recorded 784 new cases of COVID-19 for the 24-hour period ending at 8am on July 19. There have also been 15 new COVID-19 deaths from July 12-19, raising the death toll to 113, according to the Fiji Ministry of Health and Social Services latest data update.
Tuesday 20 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
To date, over 10,758 people have received their second AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination on Tongatapu.
Premium content
Friday 16 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repatriation flight from Auckland will arrive in Tonga on July 28. While, other flights from Brisbane in Australia, Vanuatu and Pagopago have not been confirmed.
Premium content
Friday 16 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Essential medical equipment for COVID-19 will be distributed to 11 Pacific Islands from the government of the United Kingdom and World Health Organization.
Premium content
Thursday 15 July 2021
Premium content
Suva, Fiji
A one-year USD1.5 million partnership to support seven governments in the Pacific in their COVID-19 preparedness plans was today committed by UNICEF and the United States Government.
Premium content
Wednesday 14 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine continues to villages on the eastern and western districts of Tongatapu, starting this month. The roll out runs until August on the following timetable:
Premium content
Tuesday 13 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
To date over 7625 people in Tonga have received their second dose of the COVID-19 Astra-Zeneca vaccine, since the second vaccination roll out started on June 24 in Nuku'alofa. Meanwhile, the Ministry aims to inoculate up to 70 percent of Tonga's population by December this year.
Premium content
Wednesday 7 July 2021
Suva, Fiji
Fiji opened its first COVID-19 vaccination drive-through at Suva's Albert Park Pavillion on 6 July as the country battles with rapidly increasing new cases. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported 636 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths over a 24-hour period on 7 July.
Wednesday 7 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 5475 people have received their second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination as of this afternoon, July 7 in Tongatapu.
Premium content
Tuesday 6 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Passengers repatriated from Auckland, New Zealand, last week have tested negative in their first of three COVID-19 tests while in quarantine, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. Three COVID-19 tests are now required from passengers during quarantine.
Premium content
Tuesday 6 July 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Declaration of a State of Emergency due to COVID-19 has been renewed from 8:00pm July 5 to 8:00pm August 2. The National COVID-19 Restrictions Directions still applies, including night-time curfews from midnight to 5:00am.
Premium content
Wednesday 30 June 2021
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A repatriation flight with over 200 passengers arrived in Tonga this afternoon from Auckland, New Zealand. Another flight is expected to arrive this evening from Brisbane, Australia with no passengers but will take out seasonal workers and others.
Premium content
Wednesday 30 June 2021
Austin-Texas, USA
Outside the rich-country bubble, the virus can spread, mutate, sicken, and kill. One obvious solution is to get the hoarded stockpile of vaccines into arms all around the world - but there have been only "paltry half-measures and insufficient gestures". For now, where this is heading is obvious. The US and Europe are offering crumbs, protecting their billionaires, their pharmaceutical lobbies, and their politicians’ campaign contributions. Meanwhile, China and Russia have other ideas – and the capacity to realize them. So, before too long, when the back of this pandemic is finally broken, the world will have fresh evidence about who is reliable and who is not. - By James K. Galbraith.
