Curfew

Tonga’ borders will begin opening progressively from Monday, 1 August.

At a press conference in Nuku’alofa yesterday afternoon, Hu’akavameiliku said the curfew will remain from 12am to 5am and the wearing of masks in public places is still in force with the Orange Light Traffic Light status.

“As has been advised the progressive opening will be monitored closely and reviewed as we move forward,” Hu’akavameiliku stated.

Two flights a week from Fiji and New Zealand and once a week from Australia will start on 1 August.

The cases were identified on Monday and the ship has been quarantined for at least 14 days.

One of the fishermen who tested positive is i-Kiribati and the other a foreigner.

The i-Kiribati fisherman was returning home after completing a yearlong contract aboard a Taiwanese purse seiner, his last port-of-call before travelling to Kiribati was Papua New Guinea a month ago.

Before reaching Tarawa he transferred from the purse seiner to a carrier vessel or mothership, belonging to the same company, which is the vessel that is now under quarantine off of Tarawa.

The curfew time has been shortened for National Prayer Week 2021 from 12am (midnight) to 3am.

The curfew from 12am (midnight) to 5am except for the changes to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day is now effective until 8pm 18 January 2021.

The restrictions are enforced by the Tonga Police, His Majesty's Armed Forces and relevant authorised officers.

The curfew was enforced as part of the country's response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Photo file RNZ Pacific 

A number of people are reported to have been shot at a protest in Lekki, a suburb of the city.

A 24-hour curfew planned for Lagos, a key commercial hub and Africa's most populous city with an estimated 20 million residents, was delayed to allow commuters to return home.

Other regions are now imposing curfews.

Following reports of widespread violence across Nigeria, the city of Jos and Ekiti state said curfews would come into force later on Tuesday.

The French High Commissioner Dominique Sorain made the announcement at a briefing with the French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch.

The curfew, which was first declared on 27 March, applies between 8pm and 5am.

Mr Sorain said the restrictions were needed because of the steady but slow progression of the virus which to date has infected 51 people in French Polynesia.

He said an Air Tahiti Nui airliner chartered by the French government was due to return from Paris at the weekend, bringing in 25 tonnes of medical supplies.

Lautoka and Suva are now lockdown with the latter entering its first day following the announcement of two confirmed cases of the coronavirus there yesterday.

Fiji's Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said the two officers arrested would be charged and will face internal disciplinary action.

Mr Qiliho warned police officers caught breaking the law would be expelled from the force, including those responsible for social gatherings at the police barracks.

Last month Tonga was hit by Cyclone Gita and this week prime minister 'Akilisi Pohiva announced an extension of a related state of emergency until 9 April.

Police are also continuing to enforce a curfew, making sure no one is out after 10pm or before 5am.

But Tausinga Taumoefolau, who owns a cafe and an ice cream parlour in the CBD, said the curfew was hurting business and not helping people recover from the cyclone.

The National Disaster Management Office advises people that a total public curfew is now in effect across the country.

The latest measure is to restrict movement and ensure the safety of all Fijians. Only essential service vehicles will be permitted to travel.