An Australian doctor in Tonga warns that it’s too early for children to return to school tomorrow because we do not know for certain if the recent arrivals in Tonga were free of the virus or just had no symptoms. “If they did pass it to people they have contacted, those contacts may still be incubating the disease...To relax these restrictions now risks an outbreak of the disease, with potentially terrible consequences.” he said. There are no CoViD-19 tests here, so Tonga is “flying blind”.
You are here
Results for Health
Saturday 11 April 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has this week announced NZ$4 million to the Government of Tonga in general budget support. This is in addition to NZ$100,000 previously provided and another NZ$1 million to be given to Tonga’s Ministry of Health to support implementing its CoViD-19 prevention plan.
Premium content
Wednesday 8 April 2020
Washington, USA
The protection of all health care workers in the face of CoViD-19 has been highlighted as doctors, nurses, midwives and many others in the industry who work to keep communities healthy are recognized on World Health Day, 7 April.
Wednesday 8 April 2020
Premium content
Geneva/New York
A virtual concert, curated in collaboration with Lady Gaga, and featuring other notable artists, will be globally televised and streamed on multiple global platforms on Saturday 18 April in support of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premium content
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
Premium content
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.
Premium content
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.
Friday 3 April 2020
1 comment
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
Premium content
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.
Premium content
Wednesday 1 April 2020
Premium content
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.
Premium content
Wednesday 1 April 2020
Premium content
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.
Premium content
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
Premium content
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.
Premium content
Monday 30 March 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Two weeks isolation is not long enough and Tonga needs more time to put into place its strategy to counter the influx of the CoViD-19 virus, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, Chief Executive Officer for Tonga’s Ministry of Health said today.
Premium content
Monday 30 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
People who ventured out today, on the second day of Tonga's national lockdown, encountered checkpoints on main roads, manned by police officers and soldiers. Police said that while most people are compliant, a few who were obstructing police had been arrested. They are also investigating reports that funerals are being held with more than 20 people present.
Sunday 29 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will continue its diversion order for incoming flights during the week 29 March to 4 April 2020, to prevent the introduction or spread of CoViD-19. Scheduled flights by Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand and Talofa Airlines will not be permitted to land in Tonga.
Friday 27 March 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga does not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19, after test results on the country's recent two suspected cases, came back negative from Australia today, March 27. The Minister of Health said vigilance and preventative measures need to continue to strengthen Tonga's response to the global pandemic at this critical time.
Friday 27 March 2020
Premium content
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga will undergo a national Lockdown from 1am Sunday 29 March, to 1am Sunday 5 April, the Prime Minister, Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu’I’onetoa announced yesterday evening 26 March in a Press Conference at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.
Premium contentPages
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.