Younger males play a sport of rugby at sundown in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on April 10, 2019. The island nation of Tonga has reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 on Oct. 29, 2021 after a traveler from New Zealand examined optimistic.
Mark Baker/AP
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Mark Baker/AP
Younger males play a sport of rugby at sundown in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on April 10, 2019. The island nation of Tonga has reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 on Oct. 29, 2021 after a traveler from New Zealand examined optimistic.
Mark Baker/AP
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The island nation of Tonga on Friday reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a traveler from New Zealand examined optimistic.
Tonga is among the many few remaining nations on the planet which have prevented outbreaks of the virus. Like lots of its neighbors, Tonga’s isolation has helped preserve it protected nevertheless it faces massive challenges ought to the virus take maintain because of its under-resourced well being system.
The close by nation of Fiji prevented important outbreaks till April, when the delta variant ripped by the island chain, infecting greater than 50,000 folks and killing no less than 673.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa stated in a radio tackle that the traveler was amongst 215 passengers who had arrived on a flight from the New Zealand metropolis of Christchurch on Wednesday and had been isolating at a quarantine lodge.
A pig wonders round a home in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on April 7, 2019. Tonga on Friday reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a returning resident caught the virus whereas in New Zealand.
Mark Baker/AP
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Mark Baker/AP
A pig wonders round a home in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on April 7, 2019. Tonga on Friday reported its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a returning resident caught the virus whereas in New Zealand.
Mark Baker/AP
The prime minister deliberate on Monday to make an announcement about any future lockdowns, in response to information web site Matangi Tonga.
Christchurch had been free from the virus for months till this week, when 4 neighborhood instances had been reported after a returning resident caught the virus whereas in Auckland, the place an outbreak has been rising since August.
New Zealand well being officers stated the traveler to Tonga was absolutely vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and had returned a unfavourable take a look at earlier than leaving for Tonga. The officers stated they’d be working with their Tongan counterparts to substantiate the case and supply extra particulars within the coming days.
Tongan Well being Ministry chief government Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola stated it was unlucky the airplane had already left Christchurch earlier than the information got here of the neighborhood instances there, Matangi Tonga reported.
‘Akau’ola stated all frontline staff together with well being employees, law enforcement officials and airport employees who had been on responsibility when the airplane arrived had additionally been put into quarantine after the optimistic case was confirmed. He added that every one these working close to the flight had been vaccinated.
Positioned northeast of New Zealand, Tonga is dwelling to about 106,000 folks. About 31% of Tongans are absolutely vaccinated and 48% have had no less than one dose, in response to analysis group Our World in Knowledge.
