Results for Health

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.

Tonga's Ministry of Health has negated public concerns that Tongans had returned to the Kingdom from New Zealand after attending a Mt Roskill event with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19.

Tonga has declared a month-long State of Emergency in Tonga aimed at CoViD-19 prevention stating that the disease “is imminent and will endanger or threaten.. the lives of people in Tonga.”. Starting today at 8:00 pm: Foreign nationals are banned from entering Tonga; Tongan nationals must be quarantined for 14-days upon arrival; public gatherings are restricted; big events including funerals are banned; bars will be closed and other measures are being taken.

While no cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Tonga, tougher measures for incoming travellers were imposed today, in a fifth advisory aimed at preventing the virus from entering the country. It includes strict quarantine requirements for travellers through or from some affected countries, while all international cruise ships and yachts scheduled to arrive in Tonga are now barred indefinitely. By Eleanor Gee.

Tonga has declared a Public Health Emergency Order to be prepared to fight COVID-19. Two declarations announced by the Prime Minister this afternoon, give more power to the Ministry of Health to contain COVID-19. The CEO of Health said today they have limited intensive care capacity “I think as a Ministry we have to prepare for more difficult scenario,” he said, but Tonga’s small size is an advantage where it is easier to contain.

Tonga does not have any cases of coronavirus COVID-19 the Vaiola Hospital confirmed this evening. A doctor said that the second test on a person with pneumonia that was sent to New Zealand on Saturday had returned a negative result today.

Samples, taken from a suspected coronavirus COVID-19 case in Tonga this week, arrived in Australia yesterday and are on their way to a Melbourne laboratory for testing.

More than 10 suspected COVID-19 cases across the Pacific who have had samples tested have come back negative confirmed Dr Yutaro Setoya from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Tonga. This does not include Tonga's suspected COVID-19 case sample, which is still being tested.

When Dr Duke Mataka became Tonga’s Ophthalmologist in 2018, he filled a post that had been vacant for a decade following the departure of Dr Afu Taumoepeau. Last year alone they carried out 500 operations, mainly cataract treatments.