Borders

All arriving passengers will be required to follow Covid-19 Health Guidelines in place.

The normal quarantine process is also lifted from today, except for those who have not been fully vaccinated and are returning home as Tongan citizens.

However, a Government statement said the normal daily curfew will continue from 12am to 5am daily.

Photo file 

The Tongan Government has confirmed in an announcement that the number of weekly flights are expected to increase slowly over the next two months.

Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni and Cabinet met last week and approved recommendations from the National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) on the open border policy framework.

The rules for incoming passengers require adults to prove they are vaccinated for Covid-19 (unless exempted) with at least two doses, and all passengers must have a supervised negative rapid antigen test (RAT) before departure.

Australia, which shut its borders in March of 2020, has been going through a staggered reopening in recent months, allowing in only its citizens and residents, skilled migrants, international students and certain seasonal workers.

In January, Morrison said he hoped international borders could fully reopen before Easter.

His popularity has been sliding in recent months, however, in part reflecting questions about his handling of the Omicron outbreak, and he faces pressure from a federal election that must be called by May.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said this will involve a three- day stay in a hotel with a test to be done on day two.

A negative result will allow for discharge into the community on day three.

Dr Fong also said  incoming travel from today will be restricted to diplomats, returning residents, permit holders, and those approved by the Covid 19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce.

The Border Risk Reduction Protocol Processes will be trialed during this time and further refined in preparation for the 1st of December.