Polynesian island country detects first COVID-19 case since pandemic began, braces for lockdown

The South Pacific country made up of 169 islands, Tonga was among the few nations in the world to have been lucky to steer clear of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. However, the Polynesian archipelago which did not register even a single case of COVID-19 since the pandemic began is now gearing up for its first lockdown. Tonga detected its first positive case of COVID-19 on Friday, October 29, 2021.

Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, the Prime Minister of Tonga, said that a fully-vaccinated passenger arriving from New Zealand had tested positive for COVID-19 despite having tested negative in a test before she boarded the flight from Christchurch to Tonga.

PM Pohiva informed the citizens that most of the airport officials who came in contact with the COVID-19 positive passenger had been quarantined. However, he warned the countrymen that they should be prepared for a possible lockdown.

As a result of the news of COVID-19 entering the country, Tonga has seen its vaccination rate increase. Hordes of Tongans rushed to get themselves vaccinated.

Tonga’s leading daily quoted health minster Amelia Tuipulotu, “More people are coming forward because now we have coverage of a first dose of about 86% and a second dose of about 62%, so this is a major turnout today and will boost the overall coverage of first and fully vaccinated.”

Despite not registering a single case of COVID-19, the Polynesian country had declared a state of emergency and barred entry for foreigners early in March 2020. The early action had saved the country and kept COVID-19 at bay.

The island nation has a population of around 1 lakh. It lies around 800 kms away from Fiji and 2,380 kms from New Zealand.