‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

There were 14,242 new cases of Covid-19 reported in Aotearoa in the week to midnight on Sunday, and a further 21 deaths related to the virus.

The 21 people added to the Covid-19 death tally brings the total number to 2716 people whose deaths are linked to the virus.

Of the new cases last week, 6061 were reinfections, according to the figures from the Ministry of Health today.

There were also 363 people with Covid-19 in hospital as of midnight Sunday, with nine cases in ICU.

The seven-day rolling average of cases is 2029.

Last week 12,129 new cases were reported and eight further deaths were attributed to the coronavirus.

Professor Michael Baker said New Zealand was experiencing its fourth wave of the virus, with numbers doubling in the last seven weeks.

Baker said hospitalisations had increased and watewater testing showed a significant rise in Covid-19 cases in the community.

He encouraged people to get the new Covid booster, isolate if they were infected, and mask up in poorly ventilated environments.

“It’s really important that everyone who has a position in authority thinks about the health of their workforce and their school population and the social venues that they operate in.”

Baker said he agreed with the government’s decision to keep isolation requirements as they are.

He questioned why any employer would want their employees to come to work with Covid-19 and likely infect co-workers and potentially, customers.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,242 ‘o e Koviti 19 ‘kuo lipooti ‘i ‘Aotealoa ‘i he uke mei he tu’uapō Sapate pea mo ha toe mate ‘e toko 21 tu’unga he vailasi.

Tanaki e 21 ko eni ki he mate fakakatoa he Koviti fe’unga mo e toko 2716 ‘aia ko e kau mate ia ne kaunga ki ai ‘a e vailasi.

‘I he ngaahi keisi fo’ou ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi ko e 6061 ne toe pihia fakatatau ki he fika ‘a  e Potungaue Mo’ui he ‘aho ni’.

Na’e ‘i ai ‘e kakai ‘e toko 363 ma’u ‘e he Koviti 19 ne ‘i fale mahaki he tu’uapo Sapate pea toko hiva ‘i he ICU.

Ko e ‘avalisi ‘i he ‘aho fitu he uike ko e keisi ‘e 2029.

I he uike kuo osi ne ‘i ai ‘a e keisi fo’ou ‘e 12,129 ne lipooti mo ha toe mate ‘e valu tu’unga he kolonavailasi.

Pehe ‘e Professor Michael Baker kuo a’usia ‘e Nu’u Sila ha kaupeau hono fā ‘o e vailasi ‘o tapolo ‘a e fika ko ia he uike ‘e fitu kuo hili’.

Pehe ‘e Baker ko e tākoto falemahaki kuo lahi ange pea ‘oku ‘asi mei hono tesi ‘o e vai kuo faka’aonga’i ‘a e fakalalahi ‘a e keisi Koviti ‘i he komiunitii’.

Kuo ne fakalotolahi mai ki he kakai ke nau huh puusita, mavahe kapau kuo ke pihia pea tui ‘a e masaki ‘i he ngaahi feitu’u oku ‘ikai sai ‘a e venitileisini ai.

Pehe e Baker ‘oku ne tui tatau mo e pule’anga ke fakamavahe’i ‘a e kakai ‘oku puke.

‘Oku ne fehu’ia ‘a hono kei faka’atā ‘e he ngaahi ngaue’anga ‘a e kau ngaue ke omi ‘o ngaue ‘o kei fakapipihi ‘a e Koviti ki honau kaunga ngaue’.

Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

It is time to ‘de-prioritise’ the response to Covid 19, which will now be no worse than the flu for the majority of the population, an epidemiologist says.

University of Otago professor Peter McIntyre said the focus should now be on getting those at higher risk double-boosted, rather than worrying about infection control through increased mask wearing or improved ventilation.

That group included the elderly and Māori and Pasifika over 60 years old.

Covid-19 numbers rose in recent weeks, prompting some epidemiologists to talk about a fourth wave of the disease, and calls for the government to enable better ventilation in classrooms and order masking on public transport.

Monday’s case numbers released by the Ministry of Health showed the case average for the week had risen on the previous week by 300 cases, up to 2029.

Hospitalisations were also up by 144, with 363 patients in hospital with Covid-19. And the deaths of 21 people were attributed to Covid-19, up from eight the previous week.

Professor McIntyre – also medical advisor for the Immunisation Advisory Centre – said rather than looking at the total numbers we should identify groups that were not double-boosted or did not have anti-virals available to them.

“The people we’re really worried about now are those people who’ve got significant underlying diseases or because they’re in very advanced years, so we’re talking about people over 70 or 75,” McIntyre said.

Māori and Pasifika older than 60 years were also in that group, he said.

“For everybody else it’s going to be a less severe problem for them than flu.”

McIntyre was also head of the Department for Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of Otago.

He said the combination of the number of historic Covid-19 infections and the country’s high vaccination rates meant there was a really good level of immunity in New Zealand.

“To be honest I get a bit frustrated … at the fact this keeps popping up with all these messages about avoiding infection.

“I just think without any disrespect … to the people who still think that’s important, I just believe the game’s moved on and we should have our attention elsewhere.”

Epidemiologist Michael Baker yesterday told RNZ that while the fourth wave of the virus was not as intense as the previous waves, it was definite, with a gradual rise in the number of self-reported cases every day, as seen in RNZ’s ongoing database of Covid-19 information.

Last week, Cabinet decided to keep the few remaining Covid-19 restrictions for at least the next two months. Most pandemic rules have been scrapped, but people still have to self-isolate for seven days if they test positive, and masks must be worn in hospitals in some circumstances.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Kuo taimi ke oua toe fakamu’omu’a ‘a e ngāue ki he Koviti 19, ‘a ia ‘i he taimi ‘e ‘ikai toe kovi ange ia ‘i he fuluu ki he tokolahi taha ‘o e kakai, ko e ha lau ia ‘a ha ‘epitemolosisi.

Na’e pehe ‘e Peter Mclintyre mei he ‘Univesiti ‘o Otago, ko e mea oku ton uke fai ki ai ‘a e tokanga ko kinautolu ‘oku i he tu’unga fakatu’utamaki ang eke huhu malu’i tu’o ua kinautolu, kae fakatatafe hoha’a ki hono pule’i ‘a e pipihi ‘aki hono fakalahi ‘a e tui masaki mo fakalelei’i ‘a e venitileisini’.

Ko e kulupu ko ia’ oku kau ai ‘a e kau vaivai mo e Maori mo e kau Pasifika ova ‘i he ta’u 60.

Na’e mahiki ‘a e fika ‘o e Koviti ‘i he ngaahi uike kuo osi, ‘o hu mai ai ‘a e kau ‘epotemolosisi ‘o talanoa ki ha toe aake mai hono fa ‘a e mahaki, pea mo ui ki he pule’anga ke ‘ai ha venitileisini lelei ‘i he ngaahi loki ako mo e tu’utu’uni’i ‘a e masaki ‘i he fefononga’aki ‘a e kakai’.

Na’e ha mei he ngaahi keisi ne tuku ange mai ‘e he  Potungaue Mo’ui ‘a e ‘avalisi ‘o ha mahiki ‘o keisi ‘e 300 a’u ki he 2029.

Ne a’u ‘a e tākoto falemahaki ki he toko 144 pea mahaki ‘e 363 ‘o e Koviti. Kate ‘e 21 he Koviti a’u ki he toko valu he uike ki mu’a’.

Oku toe hoko foki ‘a e Professor McIntyre – ko e fale’i fakametikolo ki he  Immunisation Advisory Centre – pea na’a ne pehe ‘oku totonu ke ‘oua te tau sio ki he fika fakakatoa, ka tau tau ‘aitenitifai ‘a e ngaahi kulupu ‘oku te’eki huhu pusitā tu’o ua pe te’eki ke nau ma’u ha ‘enitivailolo.

Ko e kakai ‘oku tau tokanga ki ai ‘a e kakai ‘oku i ai ‘a honau mahaki tauhi lahi pe kuo nau fu’u motu’a, ‘a ia ‘oku tau talanoa ki he ta’u 10 pe 75.

Ko e kakai Māori pe  Pasifika motu’a ange he ta’u 60 ‘oku nau ‘i he kulupu kinautolu ko ia’.

Ki he toenga e fa’ahinga ko ee ‘e ‘ikai ha fu’u fakatu’utamaki ia hange ke fakatu’utamaki ange ‘o e fuluu’.

Ne toe hoko foki ‘a McIntyre ko e ‘ulu ia ‘o e  Department for Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of Otago.

Na’a ne pehe ko e fakataha’i ‘o e fika ‘o e pipihi ‘a e Koviti mo e leiti ‘oe huhu malu’i mā’olunga ‘a e fonua’ ne uhinga ia na’e ‘i ai ‘a e levolo lelei ‘i he ‘imiunitii’ ‘i Nu’u Sila.

Ne pehē ‘e Epitemolosisi Michale Baker ki he letio Nu’u Sila lolotonga ‘oku ‘ikai fu’u o’o fefe ‘a e aake mai ko eni hono faa’ hange ko ‘ene aake ki mu’a, na’e ‘i ai ‘a e kaka mamalie ‘a e fika ‘o e ngaah keisi faia’aho.

I he uike kuo osi ne tu’utu’uni ‘a e kapineti ke kei hoko atu pe ngaahi fakangatangata ‘e ni’ihi ‘o e koviti oku kei toe ‘i he toe mahina ‘e ua ka hoko’.

Kuo lahi ‘a e ngaahi tu’utu’uni ki he panatemiki kuo ‘osi fakata’e’aonga’i ka e kei fiema’u pe kakai ke nau fakamavahe ‘i ha ‘aho e fitu kapau kuo nau tesi positive, pau ke tui ‘a e masaki i he ngaahi fale mahaki ‘i he ngaahi me’a ‘e ni’ihi.

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni will lead the first mission to the Pacific since Covid-19 broke out.

Sepuloni, who is also the Associate Foreign Affairs Minister for the Pacific, will leave for Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga on Sunday.

It would be an invaluable opportunity to strengthen New Zealand’s relationships and reaffirm the commitment to working alongside Pacific whānau to respond to challenges, Sepuloni said.

The region was the government’s “foreign policy priority”, Sepuloni said.

“We proudly take a Pacific-led approach to solving the issues facing the region, not least to mention, climate change.

“Tackling climate change together, which has become a harsh reality here in Aotearoa New Zealand, continues to be of urgent importance. It’s more important than ever that we all take collective action to combat its effects, especially alongside our Pacific whānau.

“Our shared Blue Pacific Continent also faces a range of challenges including institutional and economic fragility, social and demographic issues, and increasing geo-strategic competition.”

Sepuloni will be accompanied by the Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds and the Climate Change Minister James Shaw as well as other community leaders.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘E tataki atu ‘e he Tokoni Palemia Nu’u Sila Carmel Sepuloni ‘a e misiona ki he Pasifiki talu ‘eni mei he to ‘a e Koviti 19.

Ko e Sepuloni foki ‘oku tokoni Minisita  Foreign Affairs Minister ki he Pasifiki pea ten au mavahe atu ki  Solomon Islands, Fiji mo  Tonga he Sapate.

Ko e faingamalie mahuinga ‘eni ke toe fakafefeka’i ‘a e va’ mo toe fakapapau’i ‘a e tukupā ‘a Nu’u Sila mo fengaue’aki  mo e fanau ‘a e Pasifiki.

‘Oku fakamu’omu’a ‘e Nu’u Sila ‘a e lisione’ ‘i he’ene ngaahi polisī ki muli’.

Oku polepole ‘a  Nu’u Sila ke ne tataki ‘a hono solova ‘a e ngaahi palopalema ‘a e feitu’u ni hange ko e feliuliuaki ‘a e ‘ea’.

E kau fakataha atu ki he folau ni ‘a e Minisita ki he  Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds mo e Minisita ki he  Climate Change Minister James Shaw mo ha taki mei he ngaahi komiunitii’.

By  Miklos Bolza, AAP, edited by Kaniva Tonga News

A Sydney woman who allegedly supplied information used in the gruesome kidnapping which involved six Tongan suspects has been granted bail.

Sira Elkheir, 21, appeared at Burwood Local Court on Thursday, one day after the NSW government agency employee was arrested for aiding the alleged kidnappers.

Police claim that Peter Vuong was snatched from his home in Smithfield on March 9, forced into a vehicle and held for nearly a week and tortured as ransom demands were made, Sydney’s 9News reported.

The 26-year-old was rescued from a home in Belmore by tactical police officers on March 14.

Elkheir was arrested on Wednesday in Greenacre after an investigation by detectives and police officers under Strike Force Kkuoa.

The Yagoona woman has been accused of illegally accessing Traffic for New South Wales data and then passing these details onto the alleged kidnappers prior to Vuong being abducted.

She has been charged with kidnapping for the intent of ransom, causing an unauthorised computer function to commit a serious indictable offence, accessing restricted computer data, and participating in a criminal group.

Her bail conditions include the surrender of her passport, the imposition of a nightly curfew, and the payment of a $300,000 surety which will be forfeited if she skips court.

Police in March described the kidnapping as a “very serious crime” involving an “extreme” level of violence.

During the ordeal Vuong, who was not known to police, was bound and had his teeth forcibly removed.

Six other Tongan men – Sunia Tu’ineau Junior Siasau, John Totau Fahamokioa, Viliami Siasau, high profile Tongan rapper Valeli Tonga, Lolo Liavaa and Kiteau Tatafu – were arrested in March over the alleged plot and are currently before the courts.

Elkheir will next appear at Parramatta Local Court on June 8.

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

The Government’s decision on whether to relax one of New Zealand’s last Covid-19 rules is not “clear cut”, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says.

Later today, ministers are reviewing whether to keep or modify the country’s last remaining public health restrictions on Covid-19 — including the mandatory seven-day isolation for people who test positive. A decision will be announced soon after.

Speaking to Breakfast, Hipkins also confirmed that a minor Cabinet reshuffle would happen today, with the fate of Stuart Nash’s portfolios to be announced.

On health, he said the Government’s decisions around Covid-19 would continue to be “finely balanced” as the virus receded into the background for many Kiwis.

When asked, Hipkins did not rule out dropping mandatory isolation and instead replacing them with health recommendations.

“It’s a finely balanced issue,” he said.

“One of the pressures we had last year was that a number of kids went to school with Covid-19 and gave it to their teachers.

“We ended up short of teachers, which means kids ended up being at home for longer, which means parents couldn’t go to work.

“All of these things are the sorts of things that we have to work our way through. It’s not a clear-cut decision.”

He said Cabinet would consider case numbers, impacts on the health system, and the disruption to people’s ability to participate in the economy when making its decision.

The Ministry of Health is also expected to release its latest week-to-week report of Covid-19 case numbers today

Daily figures up until yesterday showed a relatively stable trend of new cases being reported to authorities in the past week.

Otago University epidemiologist and public health expert Michael Baker told Breakfast that there were “big gains” for New Zealand if Kiwis stayed home when they were sick.

Benefits included reducing the strain on the health system and killing fewer people prematurely from preventable infections like Covid-19, but also the flu.

“When you have those symptoms, you should stay at home and I think that’s one of the big lessons from the pandemic.”

Baker said New Zealand had already had a “very vigorous response” to Covid-19, but that he is reluctant to support an easing of isolation rules.

“The core of that is vaccines and boosters being freely available. And hopefully, all eligible New Zealanders will take advantage of that.

“But we have to think about the other measures as well. One of the big things we’ve learned from Covid-19 is that if you have a respiratory illness, you shouldn’t go to work, go to school, go to social events, and spread that infection around.

He said the legal requirement to self-isolate added “considerable weight” to people’s judgment calls about whether to stay at home.

“It does add considerable weight to know that this is an expectation. In many ways, it’s just how we treat the roads. To make roads safe, we have laws and regulations and that way, we can share roads in relative safety.”

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Ko e tu’utu’uni ‘a e pule’anga pe ‘e fakangaloku ‘a e taha e ngaahi tu’utu’uni fakamuimui ‘a Nu’u Sila ‘oku kei toe mai ma’a e Koviti 19 ‘oku teeki ke mahino ‘aupito.

Pehe ‘e he Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins ko e ngaahi fakangatangata fo’ou ko e tali ia ki he kei fakalalahi fakamamani lahi ‘a e ngaahi keisi’.

Anenai ange he ‘aho ni na’e liviu ‘e he kau minisitaa pe ‘e tauhi ai pe pe ko hano liliu ‘a e toenga fakangatangata ‘a Nuu Sila ki he Koviti 19 – kau ai ‘a e ‘aho ‘e fitu pau ki he fakamavahe ma’a e kakai tesi positivi’.

‘E toki fakamahino ‘a e tu’utu’uni ko ia taimi si’i mei heni.

‘I ha’ane lea ki he Breakfast ne fakapapau’i  ‘e Hipkins  ‘e ‘i ai ha ki’i liliu si’i he ngaahi lakanga kapineti’ kau ai ‘a e iku’anga ‘o e ngaahi potungaue ‘a Nash.

I he mo’ui, na’a ne pehe ko e tu’utu’uni ‘a e pule’anga ki he Koviti ‘e hoko atu pe ke fakapalanisi he kuo holo ‘a e vailasi ki he tokolahi ‘o e ka Kiwi.

Na’a ne pehe ‘e ‘ikai pehe ke to’o ‘ a e fakataputapui ki he fakamavahe’i kae fetongi’aki ha fale’i ki he mo’ui.

Na’a ne pehe ‘e fakakaukau’i ‘e he Kapineti ‘a e fika ‘o e ngaahi keisi, ene uesia ‘a e sistemi ‘a e potungaue mo’ui, mo ‘ene hoha’asia ‘a e ivi malava ‘o e kakai ke kau ki he ki he ngaahi me’a ekonomika he taimi ‘oku fai ai ‘a ene ngaahi tu’utu’uni ki ai.

Oku ‘amanaki foki ke tuku ange mai ‘e he Potungaue Mo’ui ‘ene lipooti  fakamuimui taha fakauike ki he lahi ‘o e keisi Koviti ‘i he ‘aho ni.

Ko e ngaahi fika faka’aho ne tuku ange mai he uike ni ne ha ai ‘oku ki’i tu’uma’u ‘a e hu mai ‘a e ngaahi keisi fo’ou.

Pehe ‘e Michael Baker ko ha ‘epitemolosisi mei he ‘univesiti o Otago ko e ikuna eni ki Nu’u Sila kapau ‘e nofo ‘i api ‘a e kakai he taimi ‘oku nau puke ai.

Ko e lelei ‘e ma’u ai ko e si’i ange fakakavenga ki he potungaue mo’ui pea si’i ange mate kei iiki ‘a’ e kakai mei he mahaki ko eni oku lava pe malu’i kau ai mo e fuluu’.

Pehe ‘e Baker ka kuo ‘i ai ha fak’ailonga sai ange ke ke nofo ‘i api.