New Covid cases have climbed in Tonga forcing the nation to go into another lockdown for a week starting this Saturday 19 at 8pm, a government spokesperson told Kaniva News this evening.
The Prime Minister is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow through zoom in which he would release the details.
The news came after the country recorded its first community cases early last month after two port workers had tested positive.
It followed with a nationwide lockdown but that was eased on February 21. Further lifts of Covid restrictions had been announced later on including Tongatapu and Vava’u students in forms 6 and 7 returning to face-to-face learning at schools yesterday, Wednesday 16.
There are 273 new cases of Covid in Tonga today Thursday 17 brining the number of active cases to a total of 1632.
There have now been 2530 confirmed Covid cases in Tonga since the outbreak.
The number of Covid related deaths stood at two while 896 people had recovered.
Meanwhile, three cabinet ministers reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, including the Minister for Internal Affairs Sione Sangstar Saulala, Minister for Foreign Affairs Fekita ‘Utoikamanu and the Minister for Justice and Prisons Hon Sāmiu Vaipulu.
The Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku had also tested positive and entered self-isolation last week.
