3 Feb 2022

Tonga in lockdown as Covid-19 cases rise

From , 6:02 am on 3 February 2022

A 48hour lockdown started at 6pm on Wednesday in Tonga after the confirmation of two positive cases of Covid-19 in the kingdom on Tuesday.

The Tongan Government has stepped up contact tracing measures in order to ring fence community transmission of Covid-19.

But the Parliamentary Speaker fears it may be too late, with a close contact of one of the two new infections confirmed to have been on a flight to Vava'u.

Lord Fakafanua says one of the cases may have been positive in the community for some time last week.

He spoke with our reporter Lydia Lewis who began by asking him how the lockdown will affect the ongoing recovery from last month's volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku

Tonga's Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Photo: Kaniva Tonga