Tonga’s Ministry of Health trusts the World Health Organization’s (WHO) view that asymptomatic transmission of CoVID-19 has not been proven, CEO of the Ministry of Health Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said this week.
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Results for Health
Friday 17 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga has extended its State of Emergency for another month until May 15, due to the continuous spread of CoViD-19 globally, including Tonga's neighbouring countries the Prime Minister Hon Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa announced this afternoon. Eased national restrictions also come into effect starting at 8:00pm 17 April to 8:00pm 24 April, when they will be reviewed. But the PM also indicated that international airline diversions could last into June.
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Thursday 16 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The first CoViD-19 PCR testing machine and one x-ray unit arrived in Tonga by container ship on Saturday, 11 April, along with 36 hospital beds donated by a Tongan family, the Ministry of Health confirmed this afternoon. However, the machine cannot be used until testing kits arrive.
Tuesday 14 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga's national lockdown was eased on Sunday, April 12 after the Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Health confirmed no COVID-19 cases. However, borders remain closed, while a curfew and ban on gatherings has been continued.
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Monday 13 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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”.
Saturday 11 April 2020
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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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
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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
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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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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
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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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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Monday 30 March 2020
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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.
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