Tonga’s commercial banks will close tomorrow, April 9, due to severe Tropical Cyclone Harold, which is expected to close in on Tonga tonight. Meanwhile, the economic downturn is becoming more acute for Tonga due to CoViD-19, states a bank manager.
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Wednesday 8 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A storm force warning is in force for Tongatapu as severe Tropical Cyclone Harold was located 965km west north west of Nuku'alofa at 08:00am this morning and tracks closer, moving at a speed of 38km/hr.
Wednesday 8 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
With CoViD-19 we are reminded that viruses and germs cause sickness on a large scale and that hands are one of the leading transmitters of germs that cause respiratory infections, typhoid and diarrhoea. Thousands of children under five die in the Pacific each year from diarrhoeal diseases. Germs transmitted by hands play a large role in this type of death. By Otto ten Bosch, Matangi reader.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three CoViD-19 testing machines and 2000 test kits are expect to arrive in Tonga later this month, although it is still uncertain how they will get here. Meanwhile, the Health CEO warned against public scaremongering: "When people try to force authorities not to accept donations like PPEs to help us fight CoViD-19, it is like the public forcing someone to use a fork and spoon to fight a lion."
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The whole of Tonga is preparing to counter the impact of the CoViD-19. Hospitals in all island groups are training staff and preparing as best they can, while waiting for special medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), that they hope will arrive before the virus.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A Tropical Cyclone Alert remains in force for Tongatapu, Ha’apai and ‘Eua as severe TC Harold moves towards Tonga. On its current track, it is expected to lie at about 120km south-west of Nuku'alofa, at around 7:00am on Thursday morning, as a Category 3 storm.
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Tuesday 7 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Asian Development Bank today, 7 April announced a grant of $470,000 to help finance a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga, where the country's main hospital has limited capacity to quarantine and isolate cases.
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Tuesday 7 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Fua’amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre was activated this morning as severe Tropical Cyclone Harold is expected to enter Tongan waters as a Category 3 storm by Thursday morning, April 9. UPDATED.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Melbourne, Australia
As government mandated lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic affect a rising share of the global population, fewer will die of COVID-19, as well as other transmissible diseases. But how should we weigh those benefits against the costs of unemployment, social isolation, and widespread bankruptcies? By Peter Singer and Michael Plant.
Monday 6 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
If one person has CoViD-19 in Tonga, the virus could be rapidly transmitted to hundreds of people due to our nature to socialize, warned the Minister for Health, Hon Dr 'Amelia Tu'ipulotu, today.
Monday 6 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
With CoViD-19 numbers climbing daily around the world, and the lack of PPE available worldwide, people can sew their own face masks as an added protection from spreading the virus. Studies show the effectiveness of different materials in blocking the virus.
Monday 6 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three men were acquitted of possession of methamphetamine, after a Supreme Court judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges against them.
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Sunday 5 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga Police made 118 arrests, including 16 for illicit drugs, during the first week of the national lockdown. Acting Deputy Police Commissioner 'Atunaisa Taumoepeau said on Friday that most people were respecting the lockdown under the state of emergency in support of the Ministry of Health, even though at times there had been vehicles queuing for a few kilometres at the main Tongatapu checkpoints.
Sunday 5 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.