WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The island nation of Tonga on Friday stated its first-ever case of COVID-19 after a traveler from New Zealand tested nice.
Tonga is among the few ultimate nations on this planet which have prevented outbreaks of the virus. Like many of its neighbors, Tonga's isolation has helped preserve it protected nevertheless it faces large challenges should the virus take dangle because of its below-resourced health equipment.
The regional nation of Fiji prevented significant outbreaks except April, when the delta variant ripped through the island chain, infecting more than 50,000 individuals and killing at the least 673.
Tonga's prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa stated in a radio handle that the vacationer was amongst 215 passengers who had arrived on a flight from the new Zealand city of Christchurch on Wednesday and had been keeping apart at a quarantine inn.
The prime minister deliberate on Monday to make an announcement about any future lockdowns, in line with information web site Matangi Tonga.
Christchurch had been free from the virus for months except this week, when four neighborhood instances had been reported after a returning resident caught the virus while in Auckland, where an epidemic has been growing to be since August.
New Zealand health officials mentioned the visitor to Tonga became fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine and had returned a poor test before leaving for Tonga. The officials mentioned they would be working with their Tongan counterparts to confirm the case and provide extra particulars in the coming days.
Tongan fitness Ministry chief executive Dr. Siale 'Akau'ola stated it turned into unfortunate the plane had already left Christchurch before the information got here of the community situations there, Matangi Tonga said.
'Akau'ola noted all frontline worker's including health workforce, police officers and airport workforce who have been on responsibility when the airplane arrived had also been put into quarantine after the high-quality case changed into proven. He introduced that each one those working close the flight had been vaccinated.
located northeast of recent Zealand, Tonga is domestic to about 106,000 people. About 31% of Tongans are totally vaccinated and 48% have had at the least one dose, in accordance with research group Our World in statistics.
0 Comments