Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold (Category 4), located about 155 km West of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu at about 3:00am local time this morning, is expected to intensify into a Category 5 System today as it passes over Vanuatu. Tonga Met Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre is tracking the powerful storm, which may move south of Tonga by 8-10 April.
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Friday 3 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The allocation of $60 million for an Economic and Social Stimulus Package that was announced by the Prime Minister Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa yesterday, 2 April “was not very smart” according to concerned Vaiola Hospital doctors, who believe we should be seriously preparing for the arrival of CoViD-19. Do we have 30,000 hospital beds? The answer, of course, is no. By Pesi Fonua.
Friday 3 April 2020
Austin-Texas, USA
China's success in "flattening the curve" of the COVID-19 epidemic has been held up as a model for the rest of the world to emulate. But what the world really needs to understand is that "victory" required massive sacrifices by doctors, nurses, and other health workers whose names we will never know. The doctors and nurses on the front lines having lived through hell, see little to celebrate, much to mourn, and reason to remain fearful.
Friday 3 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's national lockdown was extended today for another week, effective Sunday, April 5 to April 12. Dr Reynold 'Ofanoa is urging passengers who arrived in Tonga on 19 March to contact the Ministry of Health as soon as possible.
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Friday 3 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga is one of 18 countries in the world that is CoViD-19 free as of today, 3 April, and 10 of these countries are located in the Pacific region.
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Friday 3 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Eight men were arrested on April 1 for possession of methamphetamine and cannabis, in a Tonga Police operation during the national lockdown.
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Friday 3 April 2020
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Canberra, Australia
The Australian Government is assisting Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, to prepare and prevent the spread of CoViD-19, and manage health and economic impacts.
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Thursday 2 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A $60 million pa'anga economic and social stimulus package to counter the impact of CoViD-19 was announced by the Tongan government today, 2 April. The package will provide short-term financial assistance for all sectors of the Tongan economy. Tonga expects fiscal deficits of $35m 2020 and $54m in 2021.
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Thursday 2 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An appeal by a former police officer against her conviction for forgery was withdrawn during this year's Court of Appeal sitting on March 23.
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Thursday 2 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Methamphetamine and cannabis were seized from a home at Hala-'o-vave in ongoing drugs operation by Tonga Police.
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Wednesday 1 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s two weeks isolation from 23 March, in an effort to stop the CoViD-19 from entering the country, is buying time for Health authorities to prepare for a possible influx of the deadly virus when borders re-open. But there are mixed reactions from the community while Tonga remains in isolation from the world.
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Wednesday 1 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A total of 639.68 grams of cannabis was seized by Tonga Police and His Majesty’s Armed Forces, at a checkpoint in Poutaha, Tongatapu, on Monday, March 30.
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Wednesday 1 April 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
The United Nations is calling for a $2.5 Trillion support package for developing countries to deal with the coronavirus shock. UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said the economic fallout from the shock is ongoing and increasingly difficult to predict but there are clear indications that things will get much worse for developing economies before they get better.
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Wednesday 1 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Government has decided against the landing at Fua'amotu International Airport of a chartered aircraft carrying medical supplies from China.
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Wednesday 1 April 2020
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Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The organisers of the Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE, want to postpone the exposition for a year due to the CoViD-19 outbreak, but at least two thirds of the expo member states will have to agree. There are 192 countries involved in the Expo that was due to start in October 2020 and run for six months until April 2021.
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Tuesday 31 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Eighty-one people in Tonga have been arrested since March 28, when Tonga Police started an operation to enforce the one-week national lockdown imposed by Government.
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Tuesday 31 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Health Centre in Mu'a is currently being upgraded to cater for people with symptoms of CoViD-19, confirmed the Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola today, 31 March.
Tuesday 31 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A travel schedule expected for a chartered flight to bring medical supplies from China has not been confirmed at this stage. The medical supplies are aimed to help Tonga in its preventative measures against COVID-19.
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Tuesday 31 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A special chartered flight arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport this afternoon, to pick up a group from the National Geographic network.
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Tuesday 31 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Pasifika populations are particularly at risk for CoViD-19, where the risk of hospitalisation is seven times higher than for NZ European and Other ethnic groups, warns a New Zealand report on worse case scenario modelling.
