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Tonga’s positive Covid-19 cases have now risen to 14 and the Kingdom’s lockdown has been extended by two weeks to contain the spread.
Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni announced in a press conference via Broadcomfm Broadcasting that six new cases were detected in the community.
Of those cases, four were found in the village of Vaini and two in Pili; all of the cases are through close contact. These villages have subsequently been red-zoned.
A checkpoint has been set up in Vaini for testing.
Tonga’s lockdown began last Wednesday when two port workers tested positive for Covid-19. The strain of the virus still remains unknown but test samples have been sent to Australia for analysis.
In an interview with John Pulu, Sovaleni addressed the concerns that the virus arrived via the Australian navy vessel HMAS Adelaide. The ship confirmed 23 of its crew had tested positive for Covid-19 after departing Australian shores.
“Currently we’re looking at all the information, we’re looking at the schedule of ships but with the Adelaide it was contactless,” Sovaleni insisted.
“Looking at possible time of infection, we do not believe the Adelaide was the cause of infection.”
The country is still in recovery mode after the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai eruption, with international aid continuing to pour into the Kingdom.
The Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee (ATRC) confirmed 600 tonnes of non-perishable items, food and water were packed into 27 containers and sent to Tonga, arriving early last week.
However, distribution was delayed due to Covid-19 protocols and the containers were quarantined for the mandatory 72 hours.
ATRC Co-chair Hon Jenny Salesa was contacted by representatives in Tonga and confirmed the first two containers had been unloaded, checked and released by customs for immediate distribution.
“The Kingdom’s National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), the Police and His Majesties Armed Forces have joined forces to load and deliver the drums to each village,” says Salesa.
“These drums of food and water represent the love and care of Tongans and kiwis for the people of our beloved Kingdom of Tonga.”
Yesterday 24 ATRC containers landed in Tonga which included rice and breakfast ingredients donated by businessman Graeme Hart, who also donated 7 new tractors and 20 boats.
In total, 51 containers have arrived in Nuku’alofa with a third shipment expected this week.
