Results for repatriated passengers

The repatriation flights that were scheduled to arrive in Tonga at the end of this year have been "all deferred to next year", MEIDECC confirmed today. Meanwhile, all of the 215 repatriates from Christchurch, including the COVID-19 case who was later confirmed as a historical case, were released from quarantine yesterday, after testing negative to COVID-19 in their last round of tests.

All of the 152 passengers who arrived from New Zealand on 28 July have tested negative, in results obtained yesterday for their second test, the Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa confirmed this morning.

Quarantine costs for Tongan repatriates will continue to be paid by the Tongan Government confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u. Plans for repatriated passengers to start paying for their quarantine from July have been sidelined for the time being.

The 135 passengers repatriated from New Zealand and Fiji were released from quarantine today after testing negative for COVID-19 confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u. Meanwhile, plans for repatriation flights to Tonga on April 28 and 30 have been postponed with one flight cancelled.

107 passengers were repatriated to Tonga on a chartered flight from Australia this afternoon. A group of seasonal workers also departed Tonga on the same flight.

Tonga’s health officials are keeping their “eyes and ears open” as they closely monitor the spread of a new more contagious CoViD-19 variant in England and other countries. Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said today they would closely study how this new variant evolves and adapt quickly to any new threat as it develops.