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The patch of Astrazeneca vaccine. Photo: Simon Rogers Tonga s Ministry of Health confirmed more than 19,000 doses of the Covid-19 AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in the country from New Zealand yesterday. This batch would make up the second dose of the vaccine for those who have already had their first dose, said the ministry s acting chief executive Reynold Ofanoa. The number of doses in the latest shipment is short of the 24,000 doses received in the first batch, but another delivery was expected, he said. Tongan medics are still rolling out the first batch of the vaccine, having used up about 72 percent so far. ....
Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital Photo: facebook China offers help with Samoan bodies awaiting autopsies The backlog of deceased awaiting autopsies in Samoa may soon get relief with an offer of assistance from the Chinese Embassy. The Samoa Observer newspaper reported some 18 bodies, including those of children, were lying at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital mortuary waiting for autopsies to be performed. Samoa does not have a resident pathologist and relied on those seconded from Australia and New Zealand. However due to Covid-19 border closures this had not happened. An Embassy spokesperson said they fully understood the situation and China was willing to provide support after further discussions. ....
Building Tonga’s resilience further with the support of the Government of Australia Format 16th February, 2021 On Tuesday 16th February 2021, the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Mr Adrian Morrison with the Minister for MEIDECC, the Honourable Mr Poasi Mataele Tei officially commissioned the new warehouse. This newly built warehouse is for the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and their humanitarian partners in Tonga, to be better prepared to support Tongan communities with their relief efforts in the event of a disaster. The CEO of MEIDECC, Mr Paula Ma’u advised that, “the new NEMO warehouse was designed and built, to consider the hazards that Tonga is prone to, such as tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunami and droughts, and to hopefully withstand some of these extreme elements.” ....
RNZ Tonga s main airport Photo: AFP/Torsten Blackwood Flights from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia to Tonga have been postponed to next month due to managed quarantine period changes. The flights were scheduled for February the 25th, but have now been moved to March the 3rd. Matangi Tonga reports the new rule requires repatriated passengers to be in managed quarantine for 21 days, with no home isolation. Tonga’s head of government communication, Paula Ma’u, said postponing the flights allows for one week for workers to rest and for the facilities to be cleaned before the next arrivals. There are currently 114 passengers who arrived last week who remain in quarantine at the Tanoa Hotel in Nuku’alofa. ....
AirCalin Airbus at Noumea Airport Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel Heavy gales forecast for Tonga overnight Schools have closed down today in Tonga due to damaging gales forecast for the kingdom as a likely cyclone looms. Forecast maps for Tropical Depression 09F were released by the Fua amotu Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre this afternoon. The Tropical Depression is forecast to enter Tongan waters tonight as a Category 1 Tropical Cyclone. Earlier this morning there was a forecast of heavy gales to Tongatapu and Eua late this afternoon and overnight. Schools closed today in Southern Tonga and classes at all government schools in Tongatapu and Eua have been cancelled for today. ....