Results for Health

A range of cleaning supplies from Karcher in Australia donated to hospitals across Tonga to help with cleaning up the ashfall after the eruption, were received by the Ministry of Health yesterday, 6 April.

Ha’apai is now under lockdown restrictions, starting today up to 5:00am Saturday, April 9, after it was confirmed there is COVID-19 spreading in the community.

Six deaths from COVID-19 in Tonga have been confirmed, while another five people with the virus died from underlying illnesses, the Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala said today, March 29.

The COVID-19 virus has reached Ha’apai, with 29 positive cases confirmed out of the 126 people who travelled from Nuku’alofa to the outer islands, last week. Meanwhile, a total of 363 new cases were recorded in the whole of Tonga over a 24 hour period up to 6:00am today, bringing the total number of active cases in Tonga to 2,919. Positive cases in Tonga are forecast to peak at 1,000 cases per day by mid-April. Three people have died from COVID-19 and another six positive cases died from underlying illnesses.

Three cabinet ministers have tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to the Prime Minister who tested positive on Saturday. The Minister for Health, Hon Dr Saia Piukala confirmed today he is also in self-isolation for 10 days but has tested negative so far for COVID-19.

A total of 174 repatriated passengers, were released from the Tanoa Hotel quarantine on Tuesday, March 1, after testing negative to COVID-19. Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa said those arriving on the next repatriation flights, who would like to quarantine in their own homes can write a letter to the Ministry of Health, who will inspect the homes before approvals.

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.

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.

Ultra-cold chain equipment to store Pfizer vaccines for long-term use arrived in Tonga on an Australian Defence Force humanitarian flight on Monday. The rollout of boosters is the key to protecting the people of Tonga from the current COVID-19 outbreak, Australia’s High Commissioner, HE Rachael Moore said