Tonga reports its first-ever COVID-19 case, PM urges people to prepare for potential lockdown
Story highlights
Tongan PM has urged people to use the weekend to prepare for a potential lockdown next week, local media reported
Tonga's Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, in a radio address, confirmed that the first case of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), has been reported in the island nation since the pandemic began last year.
As per the local media reports, a traveller from New Zealand has been tested positive. The infected person was among 215 passengers who arrived from the city of Christchurch. The news was confirmed on Friday and the media reports stated that the infected person is currently in a MIQ facility in Tonga.
trending now
)
Another mine accident in China takes 11 lives: State media
)
Scientists at London Museum to study dust from Bennu asteroid and unveil secrets
)
Saudi capital Riyadh to host World Expo 2030
)
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: Check result date, number of seats, candidates & all you need to know
)
China trains hundreds of 7-year-old athletes to 'create iron army'
)
'Nothing will happen to you,' Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar met Israeli hostages in a tunnel
)
Israel-Hamas War LIVE: Released hostages handed over to Red Cross in Gaza
)
Riyadh covertly working on plans to artificially boost oil demand globally: Report
)
18% of contesting candidates in 5 poll-bound states have criminal record, Telangana tops the list: Report
)
BAN vs NZ 1st Test Live Streaming: When and where to watch Bangladesh vs New Zealand 1st Test LIVE in India
)
COVID-19 may be 'man-made', says UK's Michael Gove in inquiry
)
Israel frees 33 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of 11 hostages after extension of truce
)
French serial killer's widow on trial over decades-old murders
)
Uttarakhand tunnel rescue LIVE | Vertical drilling of 36 meters completed, say officials
)
Planning to get more Indians to work in Israel, says envoy Naor Gilon
Tongan PM has urged people to use the weekend to prepare for a potential lockdown next week, local media reported.
"The reason the lockdown won't happen this weekend is because I have been advised that the virus will take more than three days to develop in someone who catches it before they become contagious. We should use this time to get ready in case more people are confirmed they have the virus," he said.
On the other hand, New Zealand's Ministry of Health stated: "The case returned a negative pre-departure test before leaving New Zealand. They are fully vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and had their second dose on 15 October."
"They were tested in routine Day 0 testing yesterday and returned a positive result today. The Ministry, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is working with officials in Tonga to confirm the case. There will be further updates on this tomorrow," the statement added.
