Results for COVID

Tonga’s first positive has been referred to as a ‘weak positive’ case, after arriving from Christchurch on 27 October, said Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola. The other 214 passengers on the flight have tested negative in their first COVID-19 tests. Meanwhile, the positive case will have his second COVID-19 test on Friday, November 5. By Eleanor Gee.

At least 1,090 students aged 12 to 17 years-old have been vaccinated with the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to date, since the roll-out to schools in Tongatapu began on October 21, confirmed the Ministry of Health today.

Tonga is returning 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines to COVAX today so they can be given to Vietnam before the expiry date. The Ministry of Health is disappointed that unvaccinated people have been slow to take up these doses. So far less than 30% of the total population has been vaccinated. The ministry said it is not easy to get the vaccines and now they are trying to get more. Around 31,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Tonga next week but these are for 12 to 17-year-olds and pregnant women.

The COVID-19 vaccine program will start rolling out in the Niuas on 28 September, the Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday. Meanwhile, the Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau'ola urged young people (18-29 years) throughout Tonga to hurry up and get their vaccinations because COVID-19 can reach Tonga. “If you get the vaccine while there is a COVID outbreak, it’s too late. There will be hundreds of lives lost,” he warned.

Another 897 Tongans received their first shots and 51 received their second doses of COVID-19 vaccine, for the week September 10-16, after the Ministry of Health urged the 16,352 unvaccinated people in the targeted age groups to hurry up and get their shots this month before the vaccines expire. Unfortunately, at this rate it would take another 55 weeks to reach the target.

Repatriation flights due to arrive from Australia and New Zealand this month have been deferred due to COVID-19, confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u today.

Kennedy Maeakafa Fakana’ana’a-ki-Fualu from Otahuhu has been busy delivering food to Tongan overstayers in New Zealand during the current COVID-19 lockdown.

The COVID-19 vaccination will not turn people into zombies, change their DNA or put magnets into their arms. “I hope people will take note that some information circulating is just ridiculous,” said Tonga's Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola yesterday. “The problem is lots of misinformation on social media causes people to be confused,” he said.

A consignment of 36,800 AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses, funded by Japan, and provided by COVAX, arrived in Tonga on an AIr New Zealand cargo flight last night, 25 August. "While I sincerely hope that Tonga could maintain its COVID-free society, after fully getting vaccinated, we will have to reconsider our border restrictions so that we could get along with other countries," said the Japanese ambassador to Tonga.