Results for Pacific Islands

Tongan technicians were transported to Kao Island in Australian helicopters to repair a key Digicel tower to help restore communications to the outer islands in a three day operation completed on February 22.

Discrepancies in breakdown of the COVID-19 (Omicron variant) figures for Tonga released by the government's press conferences, continue to confuse people who are trying to follow exactly how many cases have tested negative/recovered since recording of cases began on 29 October last year. There were 55 new cases reported today, and 57 new negatives/recoveries. It seems likely there were a further 60 recoveries that were not specified. One person has died from an underlying condition.

The Tongatapu end of Tonga’s international fibre optic cable was being pulled up today for splicing and is expected to come online by late tomorrow, Tuesday, 38 days after a large section was blown to bits by a volcanic eruption on Jan. 15.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, 'Ohsumi', left Tonga last Wednesday, February 16, after delivering relief supplies to Tongatapu and the outer islands.

Tonga now has 195 active COVID-19 cases, the Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, confirmed today, Feb.17. New positive cases include 30 people in Hu’atolitoli Prison, 25 among the newly arrived repatriates in MIQ, and 14 in the community.

Seven thousand doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines funded by Japan through COVAX, arrived in Tonga yesterday, February 15.

All Tongans are appreciative of an outpouring of support received from the Australian community, including Tongan diaspora, and government, in response to the double catastrophe of the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis on Jan. 15, says HRH Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku'aho in Canberra.

An 80 km stretch of Tonga's telecommunications cable, was blown to bits by a volcanic eruption on Jan. 15 and there's no easy fix. Short pieces have been recovered, while a major section of the fibre optic cable, about 55 km long, including an expensive repeater, has yet to be recovered from the seabed. By Mary Lyn Fonua

Three repatriation flights are scheduled to arrive in Tonga today from New Zealand, Fiji, and Australia, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Tei, confirmed on Feb.14. They are the first passenger flights in over three months.