Time has given Tonga a great opportunity to prepare itself for the virus and any cases that it might produce. The question is, has this time been used wisely and with urgency to prepare Tonga for the future risks? Those risks, however small, exist even now. Aid money is coming in. Using that to build up the capacity of the health system now means that this can be kept for the future. Wouldn’t it be great if Vaiola were to have a state-of-the-art five-bed ICU that can treat anyone who needs that level of care even after CoViD-19 abates? The staff can do it, if only the facility is there. And it could be. And so we await the arrival of the virus.
I hope Tonga is well prepared when it does.... - Dr Russ Schedlich
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Results for Tonga
Tuesday 26 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Five men and a woman have been arrested and charged after the Tonga Police Drug Enforcement Taskforce seized illicit drugs, a firearm and live bullet, between May 21-24.
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Tuesday 26 May 2020
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London, UK
The story of six Tongan castaways who survived on Ata Island for 15 months in the 1960s before they were rescued by an Australian fishing boat, will be made into a movie, after a Hollywood studio recently won the film rights.
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Monday 25 May 2020
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Auckland, New Zealand
Air New Zealand services to Tonga and other Pacific countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Rarotonga, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, could resume to one return service from Auckland per week, if the travel restrictions currently in place around passenger services are lifted, the airline announced today.
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Monday 25 May 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
Tonga's Minister for Health Hon Dr ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu was elected Rapporteur on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Executive Board during its 147th virtual meeting on 22 May.
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Monday 25 May 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
As there is no virus and we still live under restrictions, what does this mean for the future? As government seems “happy” with the curfew, will a curfew now become part of our daily life? Does it really reduce crime? Or are we now in a period of moral justification for limiting people’s freedom? - Dean Bishoprick
Friday 22 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Students from Liahona High School, Tupou College, and Tonga College are conducting peacekeeping patrols every Friday afternoon in Nuku’alofa in a strategy to prevent and reduce school fights.
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Friday 22 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A man was acquitted of unlawful possession of cannabis and methamphetamine by a Supreme Court judge, who found the police search unlawful. In addition, prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
Dressed in a Tongan designed shirt, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus dedicated his closing speech of the 73rd World Health Assembly in Switzerland on 19 May, to a Tongan nurses choir, who were supposed to perform at the conference but were unable to travel due to coronavirus restrictions.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Parliament yesterday, 20 May replaced its current Chairman of the Whole House Committee, Hon. Veivosa Light of Day Taka with Hon. Lord Tu'i'afitu. The decision stirred up a few loud exchanges and took up most of Wednesday's session. From the House by Pesi Fonua.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ten people including business owners and members from the Fisi'ihangale community group in Popua completed a training course on wood carving and making carving tools, from May 4-15.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Fourteen men have been arrested and charged after the seizure of methamphetamine and cannabis, at eight different locations in Tongatapu, between May 15-20.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A claim of limited liability by the owner of an oil tanker alleged to have damaged the undersea fibre optic telecommunication cables of Tonga Cable Ltd. in 2019, will be continued on October 30, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Digicel Group, the largest phone carrier in the Pacific Islands, with headquarters in Jamaica, announced it is working to refinance its activities and reduce its multi-billion dollar debts. The company has denied Australian reports of a deal to sell to China Mobile in the Pacific.
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Thursday 21 May 2020
Utah, USA
Hon. Prime Minister: Does my country, Tonga, expect me to break the United States law and be punished by it, because our Tongan government can’t even open up their borders even for a limited period of time for their citizens who are stuck worldwide to come home? What the Tongan country expects me to do, after my visa expires, especially when the US government have made no exceptions to allow us international students to stay in the US longer than we’re supposed to. - Salaetau Tuita
Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A professional development program for teachers established by the Ministry of Education earlier this year is helping to rebuild Tonga’s education system, aligning it to local, regional and international codes of teaching standards and achieving better learning outcomes.
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Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Medical supplies from China, including infrared thermometers, personal protective equipment, and hand sanitizer gels, were donated to the Ministry of Health on May 19, at Vaiola Hospital, to help Tonga prepare for CoViD-19.
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Wednesday 20 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Parliamentary debate was dominated by the Prime Minister's proposition for all members of parliament to contribute 20 percent of their annual salaries to government in its effort to counter the COVID-19, in parliament's session yesterday, 19 May 2020.
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Tuesday 19 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Preparations get Tonga ready to combat CoViD-19 should it reach the kingdom, are progressing slowly. The Ministry of Health reported delays in the construction of a specialised CoVid-19 testing laboratory, and they are waiting more protective gowns and overalls, and an oxygen generator. The Ministry is still working on a quarantine policy for future incoming passengers.
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Tuesday 19 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Crown has been ordered by the Lord Chief Justice to return more than $10,000 in cash to a local Chinese business. The cash was forfeited when he was charged for false declaration, at Fua'amotu International Airport in 2018.
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