Tsunami-hit Tonga is now going into lockdown after workers helping to deliver aid caught Covid, marking the first-ever Covid cases recorded in the Pacific nation.
Tonga is still dealing with the aftermath of a huge volcanic eruption that caused a giant tsunami, devastating the island country. Now, the nation’s first Covid pandemic outbreak is feared.
Confirming the cases also confirmed fears among Tonga’s officials that the arrival of aid from international ports could bring an outbreak of the virus with it. Covid could be an even bigger danger to Tonga than the tsunami.
Tonganese Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni instituted an open-ended lockdown that will last for a minimum of 48 hours, which begins at 6 pm Wednesday. After two days, the lockdown will be reviewed. It will require that people stay at home, and only essential services are allowed to operate.
Following the announcement of the lockdown, and because it gave a window to collect supplies for a lock-in, people have been scrambling to get their supplies. There are lines down the street outside of shops and banks as people await getting food and cash.
On January 15, the undersea volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai erupted, sending gas 12.5 miles into the air, and causing a tsunami with waves reaching nearly 50 feet. It blanketed the country in ash, and the waves flattened coastlines. In some of the islands and villages, each and every house was completely destroyed. Three died, and an estimated 84 percent of the population have been affected by natural disasters.
The disaster meant humanitarian relief was immediately needed. The delivery aimed to be contactless. One supply ship, departing from Australia, had more than 20 cases of Covid reported among the sailors.
Aid flights also had Covid infections among their crew members, coming from Australia as well as Japan. Tonga even turned back an aid flight from Australia due to there being a positive Covid case on board.
Tonga has been completely Covid free for the whole pandemic, except for one singular case in October 2021 when a traveler returned to the country. Travel into Tonga has typically required a strict three weeks in quarantine to minimize the spread of cases.
After the case was detected in October, there was a lockdown across the nation. Vaccination rates jumped, nearly doubling. Before the confirmed single case in October, 35 percent were fully vaccinated. By four days after the case was confirmed, 62 percent were vaccinated.
Small Pacific countries have been the last in the world to remain Covid free. But in the past month, outbreaks have swept through many. Only a handful of the very smallest nations are still without the disease.
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