Over 100 Covid-19 cases for Tonga
There are now a total of 108 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tonga.
Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku this afternoon announced 44 new infections today.
He said the new cases were identified in the villages of Veitongo, Utulau, Houma and in the Nuku'alofa suburbs of Tofoa and Ma'ufanga.
Kiribati extends curfew as second Covid-19 death recorded
Kiribati has confirmed its second Covid-19 death as the country recorded 62 new cases in the community on Thursday.
The deceased is a 65-year-old woman who was admitted to an isolation centre this week
Betio Hospital Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta
There are now 2,235 people who have tested positive for coronavirus on South Tarawa, Betio, Buota, Butaritari and North Tarawa.
From today, the government has extended its nation-wide curfew for another seven days to contain the rapid spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant of the virus on the atoll islands.
New Caledonia records another day of over 1000 new Covid-19 cases
New Caledonia health authorities say there were 1,101 positive new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday.
This takes the total of those currently affected and in isolation to 14,241.
There have been no additional deaths but two people remain in intensive care and 36 are hospitalised.
The vaccination coverage in New Caledonia is 65.7 percent.
New Caledonian authorities have also shorten the month gap for booster shots from 7 to 4 months.
Two more Covid-19 cases from Hawaiian airlines flight
American Samoa has two new positive Covid-19 cases in MIQ after a third round of Covid tests.
Close to 200 travellers, who've spent 14 days in MIQ since arriving in the territory January 27 on a Hawaiian airlines flight, have not been released.
They have been told that they will undergo a fourth test on a Sunday and all those who test negative will be allowed to go home on Monday.
The two new positives are passengers, bringing the total number of positives from the January 27 Hawaiian Airlines flight to 43 - 35 passengers and eight Health Department quarantine staff.
Health Director Motusa Tuileama Nua said the overriding objective is to protect the territory's nearly 50,000 residents and stop a community transmission.
Some of the passengers on the January 27 flight have been complaining online for the last week about their extended MIQ time.
Solomon Islands Covid-19 cases stands at 4203
The Solomon Islands total number of Covid-19 positive cases now stands at 4203, as of midday Thursday.
The Minister of Health and Medical Services, Culwick Togamana, said a total of 229 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours - 166 in Honiara which represented 72 per cent of new cases and 63 cases from the provinces.
Dr Togamana said in terms of Covid-19 related deaths, the country's total figure stands at 50 - 38 in Honiara, eight in Guadalcanal Province, three in Malaita and one in Western Province.
The country's first case of domestic transmission of the virus was recorded last month.
The French Covid-19 vaccine pass now mandatory in French Polynesia
QR codes with proof of full vaccination have become mandatory in French Polynesia for certain public establishments.
In order for people to enter certain administrations, nightclubs, or to go outer-islands by barge they will need proof of full vaccination.
There are however exemptions where non-vaccinated people must show a negative test and have an exceptional reason to travel.
Authorities have also announced on Wednesday they will prolong isolation periods and shorten the month gap for booster shots.
For vaccinated cases, the isolation period is now 7 days as opposed to 10 for the non-vaccinated.
People without symptoms and fully vaccinated will be able to pursue activities with respect to Covid restrictions, whereas unvaccinated people going to work must be alone or will otherwise have to be self-isolated for 10 days.
PCR tests will also not be required 2 days before a flight to French Polynesia, however, they will be required on arrival to the territory.
Samoa drops to Covid-19 alert level one
The Samoan government has decided to downgrade its Covid-19 alert level to one, starting at 6pm today.
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa made the announcement this afternoon.
Samoa went into a nationwide lockdown last month after passengers who arrived in Samoa on a repatriation flight from Brisbane tested positive for Covid-19.
Fiame said the number of people that had been affected remains at 31, some have fully recovered and returned negative tests with subsequent release while others are close to making full recovery.
She said because of this Cabinet decided to drop from alert level two to one, and ease State of Emergency orders.
The prime minister said there is still no indication of any community transmission.
