COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga

The COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Tonga on 29 October 2021.[1]

COVID-19 pandemic in Tonga
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationTonga
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Arrival date29 October 2021
(1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days ago)
Confirmed cases1[1]
Recovered0
Deaths
0

Background

A novel coronavirus that caused a respiratory illness was identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019, and was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 December 2019, which confirmed its concern on 12 January 2020. WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January, and a pandemic on 11 March.[2][3]

The case fatality rate of COVID-19[4][5] is much lower than that of SARS, a related disease which emerged in 2002, but its transmission has been significantly greater, leading to a much greater total death toll.[6][4]

Timeline

On 27 March 2020, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa announced that the country would be under a lock-down 29 March – 5 April.[7]

As a precautionary measure, various travel and quarantining restrictions have been put in place.[8] Cruise ships and yachts have also been banned from docking in the country.[9]

As of 24 August 2021, in reporting to the WHO, there have been zero confirmed COVID-19 cases; and as of 15 August, 51,816 vaccines doses have been administered.[10]

On 29 October, Tonga reported its first case; a seasonal worker returning from Christchurch in New Zealand.[1]

On 1 November, the Tongan Government imposed a seven day lockdown on the main island of Tongatapu. Public gatherings except funerals were banned while most economic activities apart from banks and essential services were ordered to close down. The sale of alcohol was also banned. In response to the new reported case, there were reports of long queues outside vaccination centers, banks, Western Union outlets and shops.[11][12]

COVID-19 vaccination

On 5 August 2021, the Tongan Government introduced legislation amending the Public Health Act to allow compulsory COVID-19 vaccination. The bill passed its first reading by a 17 to 0 votes. [13]

See also

References
  1. Dreaver, Barbara (29 October 2021). "Tonga's Cabinet to meet after first Covid case arrives from NZ". 1 News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  2. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  3. Weiss, Matt Reynolds and Sabrina (2020-05-27). "How coronavirus started and what happens next, explained". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  4. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus | Imperial News | Imperial College London". Imperial News. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  5. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID)". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  6. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists - Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  7. "Tonga declares lockdown starting this weekend". Radio New Zealand. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. "Coronavirus: Sweeping restrictions introduced across the Pacific". Radio New Zealand. 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. "Tonga toughens travel advisory". Matangi Tonga. 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  10. "Tonga: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  11. "Tonga lockdown begins, schools and shops closed". Radio New Zealand. 2 November 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  12. Tora, Iliesa (1 November 2021). "Panic, lockdown and a rush to vaccinate in Tonga as first Covid case recorded". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  13. "In brief: news from around the Pacific". Radio New Zealand. 5 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
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