Tonga prepares for potential lockdown after its first case of Covid-19

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Tonga was one in every of just a few nations that had not reported a single Covid case because the begin of the pandemic. However on Friday, Tonga’s Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa confirmed its first optimistic case from a passenger who had traveled from New Zealand.

The contaminated traveler arrived in Tonga on Wednesday having flown from Christchurch, in response to New Zealand’s Well being Ministry.

The passenger was totally vaccinated, had examined unfavorable in New Zealand previous to the flight’s departure, and was found amongst vacationers staying at a resort used for managed isolation and quarantine for brand new arrivals into the nation.

Tu’i’onetoa mentioned all airport workers who have been involved with any of the passengers on the flight have been quarantined and he warned Tongans to organize for a possible nationwide lockdown following the case, according to information web site Matangi Tonga.

“We must always use this time to prepare in case extra individuals are confirmed they’ve the virus,” he reportedly mentioned.

Following the information of the optimistic case, 1000’s of individuals rushed to vaccination facilities to get their Covid photographs, Matangi Tonga reported.

Tonga’s Minister of Well being ‘Amelia Tuʻipulotu mentioned the excessive turnout over the previous few days will enhance the nation’s vaccination protection.

“Extra individuals are coming ahead as a result of now we’ve got protection of first dose of about 86% and a second dose of about 62%, so it is a main turnout immediately and can enhance the general protection of first and totally vaccinated,” Tuʻipulotu mentioned, according to Matangi Tonga.

Tonga is a Polynesian nation of greater than 170 South Pacific islands and residential to about 100,000 folks. The archipelago lies about 800 kilometers (497 miles) east of Fiji and a couple of,380 kilometers (1,480 miles) from New Zealand.

Although it hasn’t reported a Covid case till now, the island nation declared a state of emergency in March 2020 and shut its borders to overseas nationals.

Like different Pacific island nations, Tonga’s early motion protected it from Covid outbreaks that might have devastated the nation, the place 22.1% of the inhabitants reside below the national poverty line and medical services and gear are restricted.

However the strict journey measures have severely impacted the economies of Pacific island nations, particularly those who depend on tourism.

The Pacific nations of Tuvalu and Nauru are among the many solely nations on this planet to not have reported a Covid an infection. Turkmenistan and North Korea have additionally not formally reported any circumstances, although consultants say these claims are unlikely to be true.

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