Results for COVID

To date, 25,778 people have received the second dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Tonga, confirmed the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola this afternoon.

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.

New York Times reporting: The rise of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus has raised new questions about how the vaccinated can stay safe and avoid breakthrough infections. We asked the experts for advice. As long as large numbers of people remain unvaccinated, vaccinated people will be exposed to the Delta variant. “Vaccinations give you that extra protection you wouldn’t normally have,” says Dr. Erin Bromage. “But when you hit a big challenge, like getting near an unvaccinated person who has a high viral load, that wall is not always going to hold.”

Oceania is recording a surge in COVID-19 cases with 94,400 confirmed cases and 1,400 deaths reported at 25 July. Fiji is now reporting more new COVID-19 cases than any other Oceania country with 934 new infections on average each day. By Eleanor Gee.

Fiji opened its first COVID-19 vaccination drive-through at Suva's Albert Park Pavillion on 6 July as the country battles with rapidly increasing new cases. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services reported 636 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths over a 24-hour period on 7 July.

Passengers repatriated from Auckland, New Zealand, last week have tested negative in their first of three COVID-19 tests while in quarantine, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today. Three COVID-19 tests are now required from passengers during quarantine.

The repatriation flight to Tonga from Brisbane, scheduled on 30 June, has been deferred due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney and parts of Queensland, MEIDECC stated today. However, the repatriation flight from New Zealand is still scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, with about 240 passengers.

Fiji has reported 1,043 active COVID-19 cases currently in isolation, including the 121 new cases confirmed yesterday, 16 June, according to its Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The 248 passengers repatriated from New Zealand and Australia on 2 and 3 June respectively, tested negative for COVID-19, confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola.