Heavy gales forecast for Tonga, New Caledonia pilot tests positive for Covid-19, four people in quarantine in Wallis and Futuna have returned positive Covid-19 tests, and more.
AirCalin Airbus at Noumea Airport Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
Heavy gales forecast for Tonga overnight
Schools have closed down today in Tonga due to damaging gales forecast for the kingdom as a likely cyclone looms.
Forecast maps for Tropical Depression 09F were released by the Fua'amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre this afternoon.
The Tropical Depression is forecast to enter Tongan waters tonight as a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone.
Earlier this morning there was a forecast of heavy gales to Tongatapu and 'Eua late this afternoon and overnight.
Schools closed today in Southern Tonga and classes at all government schools in Tongatapu and 'Eua have been cancelled for today.
A heavy damaging swell warning remains in force of all Tonga coastal waters, with heavy rain warning and a flash flood advisory for all of Tonga land areas.
In addition, a small craft advisory remains in force for all Tonga coastal areas.
New Caledonia pilot tests positive for Covid-19
A pilot of New Caledonia's international airline has tested positive for Covid-19.
The government says his infection was detected as part of routine testing of airline personnel.
It said the individual, who is asymptomatic, has been transferred to the hospital's designated quarantine ward.
Seven other Aircalin crew members who were his close contacts have been taken to a quarantine hotel.
The latest case brings to 50 the number of Covid-19 cases in New Caledonia.
There has been no community spread.
Positive Covid-19 tests in Wallis and Futuna in quarantine.
Four people in quarantine in Wallis and Futuna have returned positive Covid-19 tests and been transferred to the hospital's isolation ward.
None of them is symptomatic.
They arrived with 44 others, who will remain at the dedicated quarantine hotel.
The last Covid-19 case was detected in November.
A total of nine cases have been recorded, but none in the community.
Managed quarantine period extends in Tonga
Tonga has extended its managed quarantine period from 14 days with seven days in home isolation to 21 days with no home isolation.
Tonga's head of the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC) said this week that once passengers have tested negative on day 21, they'll be released to go home.
All 114 passengers repatriated from New Zealand and Fiji last Thursday have tested negative.
Chief Executive Paula Ma'u said this is an extra measure due to the outbreak of Covid-19 variants already in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Ma'u also said there has been various issues with home isolation.
Samoa government changes its travel advisories
The Samoa government has made new changes to it's travel advisories lifting a blanket ban on travelers from the United Kingdom and South Africa.
Travellers originating or transiting through the two countries had previously been denied entry due to the new Covid-19 variants,but these measures now seem to have been eased.
The Samoa Observer reports that all travellers from these countries and a dozen others, hoping to get to Samoa will be assessed individually.
Passengers from all destinations except American Samoa are now required to have their medical clearance and negative Covid-19 swab test within 72 hours of their arrival to Auckland, and a blood test within five days of leaving their original port.
Counselor decries easy meth access in American Samoan
A counselor has decried the easy accessability to methamphetamine in American Samoa.
Dr Julia Fo'ifua, who is Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Counselor at the Department of Health, was discussing links between meth use and suicides.
In January there were three suicides in American Samoa. For 2020 there were 11 suicide deaths, and 6-7 attempted suicide cases which were admitted to the LBJ Hospital.
The ages of suicide victims last year were 14-36.
Dr Julia Fo'ifua said communities and parents had to ask where young people get money to spend on substances.
"Is the money that they're giving to their child accountable for, are they seeing stuff or they gave them lunch money and yet they turn arond and purchase drugs without their knowledge. And it's not uncommon.
