Ministry of Health

He said the government will ensure there is enough nursing staff in Tonga.

Piukala said the government would also support people travelling overseas because they will become good ambassadors for Tonga and learn more, and then bring that knowledge back to the country.

A total of 32 nurses who graduated in December have now joined the Health Ministry workforce.

The lab was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with funding from the Indian Government.

Matangi Tonga reports the Minister of Health, Dr Saia Piukala, saying at the launch Covid-19 is not yet over and testing in Tonga remains a priority.

The Minister of Health, Saia Piukala, said the new app 'Tonga 'a Tautolu' would be available to download this week.

Tonga's Ministry of Health reports there are 871 active cases.

There have been 11 Covid deaths since the outbreak started.

Ninety one percent of the population over 12 has been double vaccinated and 58 percent has been boosted.

Samples sequenced by the Ministry of Healtth and the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, were determined to be Omicron , the latest COVID-19 variant in circulation around the world.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said Fiji has community transmission of both Omicron and Delta variants throughout the country.

He added that it explains the high number of cases recorded recently given the high transmissibility of the variant.

Health experts are warning it will become the dominant variant.

Medical Superintendent, Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola said the new variant has reached neighbouring countries of New Zealand and Fiji.

‘Akau’ola stressed that while not a lot is known about the variant, it does spread faster than the Delta variant and is not as severe.

 “I plead with the people in Tonga to please come and get vaccinated as it has been confirmed that the vaccine will reduce the effect of the illness in the person who has the virus.”

The Ministry of Health aims to fully vaccinate 70% of Tonga's total population of 105,924.

The vehicles were handed over by the Japanese Ambassador Kensaku Munenaga to the Minister of Health Dr 'Amelia Tu'ipulotu.

Ambassador Munenaga said, “Even if vaccines are available, we cannot fully utilize them without an appropriate supply system. Vaccines, especially those for COVID-19, require swift distributions and more importantly, a very sensitive temperature control. Therefore, its supply system is called a Cold Chain.”

The vehicles will support vaccination programs in Tonga, especially outer islands, she said.

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.

The Ministry hopes to start the vaccination campaign from 15th November to support the safe reopening of schools.

MOH’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said  Covid-19 poses a lower risk to children however secondary transmission from young school-aged children can and does occur.

Dr Fong added with the successful rollout of the Moderna vaccine for 15 to 17 years old, the Ministry is now focusing on the lower age group.

Another 63 new cases have been recorded for 12 October.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said in the past seven days, 163 cases were recorded in the central division, 211 new cases in the western division, and 17 new cases in the eastern division.

Fong added that the central division cases constitute 71 percent of the cumulative total cases nationally, with the western division making up 27% and 2% in the northern and eastern divisions.

There are ten COVID-19 deaths reported for the period of 7 July to 12 October, 2021.

The Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong said 69 cases are from the Western Division, 68 cases from the Central and nine cases from the Eastern Division.

There was one lone COVID-19 death reported.

A 93-year-old unvaccinated man from Suva died at home.

Dr Fong said there have been eight more deaths of positive patients classified as non-COVID deaths.

There have been 217 new recoveries since the last update and there are currently 12,870 active cases in the country.