Results for Tonga

Twenty new positive COVID-19 tests were reported in Tonga today, and they are all close contacts and family members of previous cases.

Six new COVID-19 positive cases were announced by Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni today Tuesday, Feb. 8, bringing the total number of active positive cases in Tonga to 13. They are all close contacts of earlier cases. Two were believed infected while kava drinking at Pili, and the other four are a family of an earlier case at Vaini, with both areas are identified as hotspots in the current outbreak.

Two ports workers might have contracted COVID-19 early last week due to 'human error' said Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale 'Akau'ola, yesterday, Feb. 6. The Omicron variant is suspected in the Tonga outbreak and expected to be confirmed later this week, when the virus test results come from Australia.

After two weeks of scrambling for satellite connectivity, one of Tonga's two main telecommunications networks started rolling out more data capacity last week. But there's simply not enough capacity to meet national demand, and allocation of bandwidth has to be carefully managed, until the fibre optic cable is repaired.

One new COVID-19 case was confirmed today from more tests conducted yesterday and last night, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, said this afternoon. A total of 726 COVID tests had been done, following the first community transmission detected in Tonga on Feb. 1. More Pfizer vaccines are expected to arrive Saturday, for booster shots. By Eleanor Gee.

No further COVID-19 positive cases were found in Tonga, after negative tests were returned for 389 port workers yesterday, the Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni told a media conference today. The number of active cases has reduced from five to four.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme is deeply concerned about the impact of the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano eruption, and tsunami, on the people of Tonga, Director General, Mr Kosi Latu stated today. The events again highlighted the vulnerability of the Pacific region and its people to natural disasters. SPREP is working on ways to support Tonga during its environmental recovery and rebuilding phases.

Breaking news: Tonga has recorded its first two COVID-19 positive cases today, among the front liners handling incoming cargo shipments, Tonga's Prime Minister announced in a urgent press conference at 9:00pm. tonight, Tuesday. Tonga now faces its first COVID-19 lockdown before full telcommunications have been restored, and businesses and homes and communities are left without working internet.

The Nomuka health clinic in Ha’apai, destroyed by tsunamis on January 15, is now operating temporarily out of a school in Nomuka, the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, said today. Another health clinic that was damaged at Sopu, Tongatapu, has been closed.