Tonga repatriation flight

The passengers will be made up of 25 females and 116 males.

The National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) met Monday afternoon at Makeke Camp and confirmed the number of the passengers.

All returning passengers will be escorted to Makeke Camp at Vaini, where they will be quarantined for 14 days.

In the meantime, NEMC is planning to bring the next repatriation flight from Auckland, New Zealand as well as the first repatriation flight from Brisbane, Australia by the end of next month.

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The Ministry of Tourism said it conducted a drill today for staff who would be involved in repatriating and quarantining the passengers.

Reports that the first flight was to take place today on a cargo plane were incorrect.

Air New Zealand said its weekly cargo flight to the kingdom did not carry passengers.

The ministry told Matangi Tonga the first repatriation flight could take place in July.

Air New Zealand said it was discussions about assisting.