Thousands of people will be cancelling their Christmas Day plans thanks to the invisible grinch, Covid-19.
About 85,000 Kiwis will be in isolation for Christmas. Photo: 123RF
Leading epidemiologist Michael Baker estimates 85,000 people will be in isolation in three days’ time.
He says gathering outdoors or in well-ventilated spaces is key to limiting the Christmas spread of Covid – and testing beforehand.
“No-one will thank you for turning up and infecting other people, particularly if there are vulnerable people there. This is a time to be responsible and test if you have got symptoms, and then act accordingly.”Covid-19: Jacinda Ardern defends settings amid wave of reported cases
Crunching the numbers, Baker said we could expect about 12,000 new infections on Christmas Day, based on the daily average of reported cases, plus the same number again of unreported ones.
Covid Modelling Aotearoa programme co-leader Dion O’Neale agreed.
“We’re sitting at the peak of a relatively decent-sized wave at the moment, so definitely lots of people will end up missing Christmas because they’re a confirmed case and will have to isolate.”
“They just don’t report a case when they’re having a fun time, that’s almost certainly happened this week with schools knocking off and a bunch of people leaving work.”
‘We have had to actually cancel Christmas’
One Auckland man, who wished to remain anonymous, said Covid had slipped through the chimney at his house – he had two family members who tested positive this week.
“Sadly we have had to actually cancel Christmas. We had been really looking forward to getting together with my sister and her kids for a big family get-together… and I had to phone her yesterday and say, ‘Look, I’m really sorry we can’t do it, it’s all off’.”
They would take Christmas Day as it came and delay their family gathering.
“We’re just going to have to try and make it as nice as we possibly can, depending how people are feeling. It could be that some people are feeling unwell.”
Auckland woman Melanie Bruges will get out of isolation in time to celebrate Christmas Day with family.
“We’re having family over on Christmas Day on Sunday, so I’m going to keep a really low-profile until then. We’ll probably test on Christmas Day before everybody comes over.”
If her husband or their seven-year-old tested positive, they would postpone.
“We’ve got five grandparents around for Christmas Day and we wouldn’t want them to be exposed to anything just for the sake of a meal. We can always put it off.”
Free biscuit not worth the risk
For the thousands who were flying to their Christmas Day destination, O’Neale said it paid to be cautious and mask-up.
“Is it really diminishing your travel experience if you don’t get your free glass of water and a dry biscuit on the plane? Would you rather have a dry biscuit or Covid?”
Michael Baker. Photo:
He and Baker did not want the grinch to steal Christmas.
“It’s absolutely essential for your health, wellbeing and enjoyment of life to get out and reconnect with your family and friends and have an enjoyable summer, that is so important,” Baker said.
“Covid should not get in your way at all, and it’s a matter of making small changes in how you do things just to make it a lot safer for everyone.”
Twenty-two displaced families of ‘Atata Island, who were affected by the January 15 volcanic eruption and tsunamis, are due to move into their new homes, completed at Masilamea on Tongatapu.
Photo: Matangi Tonga
Matangi Tonga reports Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho commissioned and toured one of the new one-bedroom units, at the ‘Atata Si’i site on Thursday.
Eleven months after the destructive natural disasters, the families will start moving to this land allocated by Prince Ata.
The Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni thanked the Princess and the builders who constructed the houses.
“Government has worked with partners and all stakeholders to try and provide homes for the people of ‘Atata,” he said.
Funding came through the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai Reconstruction budget from overseas donors and partners, in partnership with the Government of Tonga.
The Atata islanders have also received fishing boats to help recover their livelihoods.
Attending were people from ‘Atata, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior government officials and staff of construction companies.
A man has been jailed for assaulting a former Supreme Court judge in Tongatapu, reports say.
Poni ‘Ahohako, 26, assaulted Lord Dalgety of Sikotilani during an attempted armed robbery at the judge’s home in Ha’ateiiho last year.
Lord Dalgety of Scotland who was appointed by the king as Election Commissioner, told Tupou he was not in a position to provide the information he demanded. Photo/Ministry of Information and Communications (Tonga)
Reports said ‘Ahohako was sentenced to a four-year imprisonment term. The details of the sentence and whether there was a suspension was unclear.
As Kaniva News reported last year, Lord Dalgety was rushed to Vaiola hospital after the encounter with ‘Ahohako. The king’s noble received minor injuries and nothing was stolen from his house.
The Scottish KC and former Conservative politician was charged with perjury over evidence he gave to a Tongan Royal Commission into the 2009 sinking of the MV Princess Ashika ferry, which claimed the lives of 74 people.
Lord Dalgety was secretary of the firm which operated the government-owned ferry. An official report into the disaster described him as an “evasive” character who “clearly lacks integrity and honesty”, and who was “unfit to hold such an important position”.
However, the Tongan life peer was cleared in 2012 after the court case against him was thrown out due to insufficient evidence.
Medsafe has granted provisional approval for two Pfizer Covid-19 booster vaccines which target Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.4/5.
Those aged 12 and over who have had at least their first two jabs will be eligible.
But the provisional approval does not mean the vaccines will definitely be used.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said the Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group would now give advice to the government who would then decide whether to use the vaccines.
The recommendations will first be considered by Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati before ministers make a final decision.
If approval is granted, the vaccines are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2023.
The advisory group will also review the eligibility criteria as part of the approval process.
The ministry said the current vaccines in use were still very effective at reducing the risk of serious illness and death, and urged people to ensure they had all the vaccines they were eligible for.
Medsafe’s website showed the provisional approvals for the two new vaccines were granted on 21 December, and are valid until 3 November, 2023.
FAKAMATALA FAKA-TONGA
Kuo foaki ‘e he Medsafe ha ngofua fakataimi ‘a e huhu malu’i pusitā ‘a e Pfizer ko ha tāketi ‘eni ke ne fakafepaki’i ‘a e fōtunga kehe ‘o e ‘Omikoloni BA.1 mo e BA.4/5.
Ko kinautolu ta’u 12 mo ‘ova ai pea kuo lava ‘enau ‘uluaki huhu malu’i ‘e ua’, te nau ‘atā ki he pusitā ko ‘eni’.
Ka ko e ngofua fakataimi ko ‘eni’ ‘oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ia ‘e pau hano ngāue’aki ‘a e huhu malu’i ko ‘eni’.
Na’e pehē mei he Potungāue Mo’ui’ ‘i ha fakamatala ‘e fakahoko atu ‘e he Kulupu Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group ‘enau fale’i ki he pule’anga’ ke tu’unga ai ha’anau tu’utu’uni pe ‘e ngāue’aki ‘a e faito’o’.
Ko e ngaahi fakahinohino’ ni ‘e ‘uluaki fakakaukau’i ia ‘e he Director-General of Health Diana Sarfati ki mu’a hano aofangatuku ‘e he kau minisitā.
Kapau ‘e he tali ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e ‘amanaki ‘e faingamālie ‘a e huhu malu’i’ ni ki he ‘uluaki kuata ‘o e 2023.
‘E toe liviu ‘e he kulupu fale’i ‘a e kulaitelia kia kinautolu ‘e kau ki he huhu malu’i ‘i he faito’o ko ‘eni.
Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue’ ko e huhu malu’i ‘oku lolotonga ngāue’aki ‘oku fu’u kei ola lelei ia ‘i hono fakasi’isi’i ‘a e lava ke toe puke lahi mo mate ha taha, pea ‘oku nau fakalotolahi’i ‘a e kakai’ ke fakapapau’i ke nau fakahoko ‘a e ngaahi huhu malu’i na’e totonu ke ma’u’.
“We are not seeing at the same time a number of other significant illnesses, which is causing significant pressure on hospital resources in the way it has in the past.”
She did not believe the government nor the public were complacent about Covid-19.
Earlier this week, officials urged people to take precautions and be prepared if they caught the virus while travelling, with the country now seeing a new dominant variant for the first time since July.
BA.2.75, which is a strain of Omicron, has surpassed BA.5, and the ministry warned it appeared to be more transmissible and could evade immunity from other variants, but more data was needed to be certain.
The Green Party said putting out a release with that information was not enough preparation for a possible summer surge.
Party Covid-19 response spokesperson Teanau Tuiono was critical of the shift in communication from a collective narrative to individual responsibility.
Teanau Tuiono Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“Of course, the measures we ask people to follow will be different to what they were in 2020 but we need to get back to clear public health messaging that makes clear that we have to work together to protect those around us,” Tuiono said in a statement.
“Whatever way you look at it, Covid will be a feature of many people’s summer break. One modeller has recently predicted that as many as one in 20 New Zealanders could have Covid in the week of Christmas.”
The biggest worry was what this meant for immunocompromised and disabled whānau, Tuiono said.
“We need to make it clear and understandable again the simple steps people can take to keep others safe.”
Reported cases have likely peaked but infections may climb – Covid-19 modeller
A Covid-19 modeller said while the country had probably hit the peak of daily reported cases in the current wave, actual infections may still climb in the next few days.
There were 6124 cases reported yesterday – lower than the day before and the same day a week ago, and well below the government’s 13,000 prediction.
Covid Modelling Aotearoa programme co-leader Dion O’Neale said testing and reporting always dropped during the holidays.
“Schools are ending and people are starting to knock off from work, and that’s likely meant that there’s lower case reporting than what there would have been, this time say a week ago,” O’Neale said.
“That’s going to feed into sort of obscuring what might still be some rising infections in the background.”
More people were seen to be masking up to avoid a Covid-19 Christmas, O’Neale said.
“If you can have the very minor inconvenience of wearing a mask, say on public transport or while you’re at the shopping mall, and that keeps you safe and means you’re able to spend time with family at Christmas and do so in a safer manner, then there are people, yeah, taking those precautions.”
Modelling suggested it would take about a month for the peak to subside, he said.
FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA
Na’e taukapo’i foki ‘e he palemia ‘a e fokotu’utu’u lolotonga ko ia ‘a e fonua koe’uhi ko e toko lahi ko ia ‘o e kau puke kuo lipooti. Ko e lau ko ē mei he mōtolo kuo fatu ‘e he Potungāue Mo’ui, ngalingali ‘e a’u ‘a e kau puke ‘e lipooti faka’aho ki he toko tahamano toluafe [13,000] ‘i he faka’osinga ‘o e māhina ni. Ka na’e pehē ‘e Jacinda Ardern ko e lolotonga ko ia ‘a e toloto ‘a e fonua ‘i he kau puke mo e tākoto falemahaki, ko e founga ngāue ‘oku lelei ange ‘a e lolotonga ni ‘i he kamata. ‘” ‘I he taimi tatau ‘oku ‘ikai ke tau toe mamata ki ha fu’u toko lahi ‘o e kau puke faingata’a’aia, ‘a ia ke hoko ai ha fu’u tokanga lahi ki he tu’unga ‘o e ngaahi naunau fakafalemahaki ‘o hangē ko ia na’e hoko ki mu’a.” Na’e ‘ikai tui ‘oku ‘i ai ha fu’u hoha’a ‘a e pule’nga mo e kakai fekau’aki mo e Kōviti – 19. Na’e kolea ‘e he kau ma’u mafai ‘i he kamata’anga ‘o e uike ni ki he kakai ke nau tokanga ange telai na’a ma’u kinautolu ‘e he vailasi ‘i he’enau fe’alu’aki holo, he kuo ‘ilo ‘eni ‘i he fonua ‘oku ‘i ai ha kalasi fo’ou ‘oku mālohi ‘aupito, talu mei Siulai. Ko e kalasi ‘eni tupu mei he Omicron, ko e BA.2.75, ‘OKU FAKALAKA ANGE IA ‘I HE ba.5, pea na’e fakatokanga ai ‘a e potungāue he ‘oku hā ke ngali lahi ange ‘ene mafola pea ‘e ala mālohi ange ia ‘i he malu’i kuo fai ki he kalasi kimu’a, ka ‘oku kei fiema’u he lahi e fakamatala kuo tānaki koe’uhi ke fakapapau’i. Na’e pehē ‘e he Green Party ko e me’a ko ē kuo tuku mai fakataha mo e fakamatala ‘oku ‘ikai ko ha teuteu fe’unga ia ki ha tū’unga ‘e a’u ki ai ‘a e faha’i ta’u māfana. ‘Oku ‘i ai e hoha’a ‘a e matāpule fai fakamatala ‘a e paati, Teanau Tuiono, ki he hū’u ‘a e fetu’utaki mei he fakatoko lahi ki he fatongia fakataautaha. Na’e pehē ‘i ha fakamatala ‘a Tuiono, “kaneongo ‘eni, ko e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ‘oku nau kolea ke talangofua ki ai ‘a e kakai ‘e kehe ia mei he 2020 ka ‘oku fiema’u ke mau fki ‘o fakama’ala’ala ‘a e talanoa ko ia ki he mo’ui lelei ‘a e kakai ke fakapapau’i kuo pau ke tau ngāue fakataha ke malu’i hotau kaungāfononga.” “Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi fakafuofua ‘oku mahalo’i ai ‘e meimei ko e toko taha mei he toko uofulu ‘e ala ma’u ‘e he Kōviti ‘i he uike kilisimasi, ‘e hoko e Koviti ko e fakama’unga tokanga ia ‘a e kakai toko lahi ‘i he faha’i ta’u māfana ko ‘eni, ‘o tatau ai pē pe ko e fē ‘a e tafa’aki te ke sio mei ai.” Na’e pehē ‘e Tuiono, ko e hoha’a lahi taha ‘oku ‘ia kinautolu ko ē ‘oku vaivai honau ivi malu’i mo e kau faingata’a’ia. ” ‘Oku fiema’u ke mau toe ‘ai ange ke mahino lelei ‘a e sitepu faingofua ke muimui ai ‘a e kakai ke malu ai mo e ni’ihi kehe. ‘Oku pehē mei he taha ‘o e ngaahi me’a ‘oku fai’aki ‘a e fakafuofua, ko e lolotonga ko ia ‘a e tau ki he tumjtumu ‘a e ngaahi keisi kuo lipooti faka’aho ‘i he tu’unga lolotonga, ‘e kei ala kaka pē ki ‘olunga ‘a e kau puke ‘i he ngaahi ‘aho si’i ka hoko mai. Na’e ‘i ai ‘a e kau puke ‘e toko onoafe teau uofulu mā fā [6124] ‘aneafi – ‘o toko si’i ange ‘i he ‘aho ki mu’a pea mo e ‘aho tatau ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi, pea toko si’i ‘aupito ia mei he fakafuofua ko ē ‘a e pule’anga ki ha toko tahamano toluafe [13,000]. Na’e pehē ‘e he tokoni taki ‘o e polokalama ki he ngaahi me’a fai’anga fakafuofua Kōviti ‘Aotealoa, Dion O’Neale, ko e sivi mo e lipooti ‘oku holo ma’u pē lolotonga ‘a e ngaahi ‘aho mālōlō. Na’e pehē ‘e O’Neale, “kuo tutuku ‘a e ngaahi ako pea kamata ke tuku mai mo e kakai mei he ngāue, pea ‘oku hangē ko e tu’unga ia ‘o e toko si’i ange ‘a e kau puke ‘oku lipooto ‘o hangē ko ia ko e taimi peheni ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi.” ” ‘Oku ‘ikai ai ke fakapapau’i pē ‘e toe ‘i ai ha nga’unu hake ‘a e pipihi ‘a e mahaki ‘i ha feitu’u.” Na’e pehē ‘e O’Neale, ‘oku fakatokanga’i ‘a e kei tui me’a malu’i [mask] ‘a e kakai toko lahi ke malu’i e Kōviti ‘i he kilisimasi.” ” Kapau leva ‘oku ‘ikai fu’u fakafiemālie kiate koe ‘a e tui me’a malu’i mānava, pehē, ‘i he fefononga’aki pe ‘i ha’o ‘i he falekoloa, pea fai pē ho’o fakapotopoto taha ke mau’i koe pea ke kilisimasi foki mo e fāmili.” ‘Oku pehē ‘e he’ene lau, ‘oku tala ‘e he me’a fai’anga fakafuofua ‘e ala a’u ki he māhina pea toki holo ‘a e tu’unga ma’olunga ko ‘eni kuo a’u ki ai.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Fiji Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho announced the move, calling it a joint decision with the commander of Fiji’s military forces, Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
As of 3pm Fiji time, RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Suva, Kelvin Anthony, reported there were no visible signs of increased police or military presence.
Qiliho said the decision was based on official reports and intelligence received of planned civil unrest and the targeting of minority groups.
Its secretary general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said they respected the outcome of the election, but did not recognise the validity of the opposition coalition and would not concede defeat.
Sayed-Khaiyum said under the country’s constitution, the FijiFirst government remained in place and Frank Bainimarama was still the prime minister of Fiji.
He said this could only be changed once the vote for prime minister was held on the floor of Parliament.
Under section 131 (2) of Fiji’s constitution, the military has the “overall responsibility” to ensure the security, defence and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians.
A police officer is in hospital after being struck at a police checkpoint in Tonga’s Vava’u island.
Police were carrying out a checkpoint on Tu’i Road in Neiafu this afternoon.
Neiafu town officer, Vava Lapota reported the incident on Facebook.
He claimed the Police officer was seriously injured.
It was still unclear what had caused the crash.
The news came after Police said a fatal crash left a woman dead and a driver injured on Saturday after a car crashed into a power pole in Tonga’s main island Tongatapu.
Two other women who were also passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.
Tonga Police says a fatal crash leaves one woman dead and the female driver injured on Saturday after a car crashed into a power pole.
Two other women who were also passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.
The driver was a 41-year-old while the deceased was a 51-year-old.
They were rushed to the hospital in critical condition before the 51-year-old passenger passed away the following day.
The Police said the fatal incident occurred at around 8am on Saturday 17 December 2022,
They said they received reports from Kolonga village of a road accident involving four women from Afā village.
The road death tallies the total of road fatalities at fourteen for the year so far.
“Police inquiries confirm that the four female persons were on their way home in one vehicle from the capital, Nuku’alofa to Afā via Halatahi Road when the driver fell asleep on the wheels causing the vehicle to swerve and hit an electric pole on the side of the road”, a Police statement read.
Police said the driver remains in critical condition.
“With this spike in road deaths and with the holiday season involving celebrations and festivities, Tonga Police once again urges members of the public and road users to please take their responsibility when on public roads seriously. Be responsible for your safety and the safety of your passengers and be respectful and thoughtful towards other road users.
“Tonga Police will intentionally reinforce its road safety services throughout the holiday season including deploying alcohol breath testing teams to strategic locations to assist with removing intoxicated drivers from our roads and charging them for violation of Traffic laws. Do the smart thing and call for pick up, take a taxi, or arrange for a sober driver if you are out drinking.
“Let’s work together to maintain safety and prevent further deaths on our roads.”
Contact Police at 740-1630, 740-1632 or 922 to report crime.
An investigation is underway into what happened Tuesday in Tongatapu after a man died following a falling from the notorious Hūfangalupe cliff at Vainī.
The 37-year-old deceased from Hoi was with two other people at the time of the incident, Police said.
The Police alleged alcohol was involved.
The Police along with Tonga Fire & Emergency Services arrived at the scene and recovered the deceased’s body from the rocks beneath the lookout spot.
It was then rushed to Vaiola Hospital.
“Tonga Police offers its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased for their loss. It is hard enough losing a loved one, more so during Christmas time, which is a time for family”.
Police investigation into this matter continues.
Contact Police on 740-1630 or 740-1632 or 922 to report any crime.
There are jubilant scenes in Suva tonight as the king-maker in Fiji’s general election, the Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa) declared that it is partnering with the People’s Alliance (PA) and the National Federation Party (NFP) to form a new coalition government to end FijiFirst’s eight-year reign.
The decision was made in a secret ballot by Sodelpa’s 30-member management board – 16 voted in favour of the PA-NFP alliance and 14 for FijiFirst – after three days of intense negotiations.
The result marks the end of an era – 16 years of political dominance by the coup leader turned prime minister Frank Bainimarama.
Sodelpa’s chief negotiator, Anare Jale said their decision to side with PA-NFP had not been taken lightly and they had given full consideration to the offers from all parties.
“It has taken days to decide on the way forward for the party,” Jale said.
“Especially the choice of the partner for whom we are going to form a coalition with to form government.”
Sodelpa’s king-maker position came about after a contentious national election count which saw PA leader Sitiveni Rabuka calling into question the integrity of the electoral system.
But now in the driving seat Rabuka said it’s water under the bridge.
“We thank the Electoral Commission, although we have some difficulties with them in the beginning….But now let it roll over. I’m sure we can all turn our back on that and work together,” Rabuka said.
Party leaders of Fiji’s new coalition government – From left Biman Prasad (NFP), Viliame Gavoka (Sodelpa) and Sitiveni Rabuka (PA) Photo: RNZ Pacific
Rabuka returns as prime minister
The new coalition has selected Rabuka to be prime minister.
He will be elected during the first sitting of of the new parliament on Wednesday, confirmed by NFP leader, Biman Prasad.
“Official communication will be with sent to his Excellency the President, confirming that the PA-NFP-Sodelpa government is ready to lead under the new prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka,” Prasad said.
The coalition leaders said they were pleased to be able to give the people of Fiji this early Christmas present – a strong and united coalition government.
Jubilant scenes in Suva – The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre tweeted this photo with the caption – Today is Fiji’s day. The people of Fiji have won. We look forward to a People’s Alliance, National Federation Party and SODELPA Coalition Government focused on Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights. Congratulations! Photo: Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre
Rabuka acknowledged the tough election race.
“I thank the outgoing government and the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama and his FijiFirst party,” Rabuka said.
“The people have spoken. People have chosen. A new way, a new path a new government.”
“We promise the people of Fiji a new era will be starting as the new government takes on the power of this country.”
Anare Jale (middle) chief Sodelpa negotiator and former MP, Ro Teimumu Kepa (left) former Sodelpa leader and Ratu Manoa Rorogaca Sodelpa president announce the party’s choice of coalition partner in Suva. 20 December 2022 Photo: RNZ Pacific/Kelvin Anthony
Sitiveni Rabuka was Fiji’s prime minister from 1992 to 1999.
The outgoing prime minister Frank Bainimarama has yet to concede the elections.
RNZ Pacific has contacted his FijiFirst party for comments.
