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Woman with kidney disease can use extra time to seek ruling on new visa, says Tribunal

By
Philip Cass
-

A Tongan woman with end-stage kidney disease has been granted a nine month visitor visa by the New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

Over the past 20 years the woman has visited new Zealand several times.

In 2017 she was granted a two year visitor’s visa which allowed multiple visits.

In 2019 she was diagnosed at Vaiola hospital in Tonga with  complicated  diabetes  mellitus  type  2.    She  had end-stage kidney disease and was advised that she needed renal haemodialysis, which was not available in Tonga.

On June 24, 2019 she re-entered New Zealand on a visitor visa and in  September  that year she  began  dialysis  at  Middlemore Hospital. She lodged an appeal last November.

The tribunal was told she would die if returned to Tonga as she needed dialysis treatment which was not available there.

All of the appellant’s adult children were either New Zealand citizens or residents.  It was important for the family to be together in view of the appellant’s reduced life expectancy.

The appellant’s children were making a weekly payment of $150 to Counties  Manukau  District  Health  Board  towards  the  cost  of  the appellant’s treatment.  All four children were working and are paying tax.

“Patients on dialysis treatment have an average extra life of five years according  to  figures  from  research in  the  United  States,” the Tribunal said.

“The appellant  is  not  therefore  going  to  require  years  of  expensive treatment in the hospital system.

“It is in the public interest for the appellant to be in New Zealand with all her children on a permanent basis. There is a humanitarian element and it is in the public interest for the appellant to be with her children in the last few years of her life. It is also in the public interest not to send someone to die in their own country.”

The Tribunal said the number of Tongans entering New Zealand to obtain dialysis was not going to fall while Tonga was unable to provide such treatment. The costs to New Zealand’s public health  system  of  treating  those  who  did  manage  to  get  to  New  Zealand was significant.

The situation of newly arrived Tongans needing treatment for end-stage kidney failure and how New Zealand could most cost effectively assist Tonga to respond to its public health needs in this area was most appropriately addressed at a political level.

The issue of whether someone from Tonga who came to New Zealand to access dialysis should be granted residence and on what conditions was essentially a political decision for the Minister who could consider such cases in a wider political context, including the links between Tonga and New Zealand through the history of migration.

The Tribunal said a visitor visa would enable the appellant to remain lawfully in New Zealand for another  nine months where she could continue to receive essential medical treatment.  During that time she would have the option of seeking a resident or further visitor visa from the Minister as an exception to instructions.

The  main points

  • A Tongan woman with end-stage kidney disease has been granted a nine month visitor visa by the New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
  • The Tribunal said a visitor visa would enable the appellant to seek a resident or further visitor visa from the Minister.

Tribunal says 63 years-old sex offender poses risk of further offending; orders deportation

By
Philip Cass
-

The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has ordered a 63 years-old man to be deported.

The appeal was made on the grounds that the appellant had exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature that would make it unjust or unduly harsh for him to be deported and whether it would not in all the circumstances be contrary to the public interest to allow him to remain in New Zealand.

The man entered New Zealand for the first time in 1985. He re-entered the country in 1998 and remained unlawfully for two years. He and his partners were granted work visas in 2001 and resident visas in 2003.

In 2007 the appellant was convicted of the first of a series of offences, including assaulting his partner, driving under the influence and driving without a license.

In November 2016, the appellant was convicted and sentenced for two offences of sexual conduct with a person under 16 years and sexual violation by rape. 

The judge noted that the aggravating factors included premeditation, the particular vulnerability of the victim, given her young age, the gross breach of trust, and repeated offending over a lengthy period of time.

The appellant was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, covering both offences.

On 3 July 2017, the appellant was issued with a Deportation Liability Notice.  The  appellant’s first parole date  is  17  January  2020,  and  his statutory release date is 15 September 2026.

The man continues to deny the sexual assault charge. He claimed he had nowhere to go in Tonga.

However, the Tribunal found that he would continue to pose a risk of sexual offending and that he had relatives in Tonga who could support him.

“The  appellant  does  not  have  exceptional  circumstances  of  a humanitarian nature: separation from family in New Zealand is not in itself out of the ordinary,” the Tribunal said.

“He has caused significant harm through his offending, so it is unclear how he will be able to resume a relationship with his family here.”

The application was denied.

The main points

  • The Immigration and Protection Tribunal has ordered a 63 years-old man to be deported.
  • The Tribunal said the man would continue to pose a risk of sexual offending and that he had relatives in Tonga who could support him.

Gov’t says yes to Tt2’s urgent needs, establishes Anti-Corruption Commission; PM clarifies sports teams evacuated from China

By
Kalino Latu
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Kiliki ‘i he ‘ōtiō ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ mo e kāinga Tongatapu 2.
Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 2 were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audio had been abridged.

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Gov’t says yes to Tt2’s urgent needs, establishes Anti-Corruption Commission; PM clarifies sports teams evacuated from China and why non-gov’t MPs not part of Cabinet team at constituency meetings

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said the non-government Members of Parliament were not part of his government team which visited and met with constituencies because they were not civil servants or Cabinet Ministers.

He said these non-government MPs’ leader was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to whom they were accountable.

He said these MPs were free to attend the constituency meetings just like any members of the public.

The Prime Minister was responding after a Tongatapu 2 constituent queried him, implying she believed the government was snubbing their MP, Hon. Semisi Sika.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he wanted to clarify this because there was a misunderstanding about it.

He said the state’s power was divided into three branches, the executive government, the Legislative Assembly and the Judiciary.

He said he has a constitutional right to meet with the people.

The Prime Minister also assured the Tongatapu 2 community the Anti-Corruption Commission would be established.

The meeting was told the king has signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption in February.

A constituent questioned the travel costs and daily allowances spent by Cabinet ministers on the meetings. The Prime Minister said they were not paid per diem.

READ MORE:

Tongan evacuees from China

The Prime Minister said the negotiations to evacuate the Tongan sports teams from China to the UK were only made between officials from governments concerned and no one else. He said he heard rumours saying that members of the public were involved but he told his staff to ignore it.

He said he was accused during the meeting of announcing that the government had no money to bring back the Tongan sports teams from China. The Prime Minister denied this and said may be the person who had accused him has got it wrongly from Facebook.

The Chief Secretary and Secretary to Cabinet, Edgar Cocker, said the government had paid a doctor and a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official to fly to the UK and look after the sports teams which were evacuated from China.

Cocker was responding to questions from the meeting.

He said the Tongan government paid for the food, medication, accommodation and all other expenses for the sports trainees while they were being quarantined in London.

He said the Chinese government paid for their airfares, which was part of the contract agreement between the Chinese and the Tongan governments to bring and train them in China.

Cocker also revealed Tonga and New Zealand had signed an aid agreement for New Zealand to fund surveillance cameras in areas which would include Tongatapu 2.

Minister of Police responses

All Cabinet ministers who were at the meeting assured the Tongatapu 2 constituents that works must be done to address the  urgent needs they raised during the meeting.

The Minister of Police Lord Nuku said these government-led meetings were different from the Parliament’s annual constituency meetings.

The noble said this was an opportunity for  the MPs to urge their constituents to give their urgent needs directly to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers.

He said in Parliament the opposition MPs and Cabinet Ministers regularly have opposing views on what should be done for the public.

The Minster said Tongatapu 2 has recorded the highest illicit drugs use of all the constituencies.

Lord Nuku said there were concerns about nightclubs and loud music being played but Police can only be able to respond and attend incidents if they had received complaints from the public.

The Minister of Police urged the constituents to complain to police whenever they had problems.  

Minister of Infrastructure responses 

The Minister of Infrastructure ‘Akosita Lavulavu said she was elated to meet the Tongatapu 2 constituents.

She said her Ministry had begun working in Fanga ‘O Pilolevu by repairing the Neivi Road.

Hon Lavulavu said the Ministry would also repaint the pedestrian crossing markings as requested.

In response to a request from a Ngele’ia mother to make their roads safer Hon Lavulavu said her Ministry will install speed humps to help reduce vehicle speeds.

She said the Ministry was currently installing speed humps on Touliki and Sopu roads.

The Minister said she’ll meet with anyone with issues they’d like to discuss and her office door was open to the public.

Minister of Internal Affairs and Finance responses

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Vatau Hui, responded to requests to post more town officers to towns and villages. Hon. Hui said the government was working to amend the law to allow appointment of  more town and district officers.

The Minister of Finance, Tevita Lavemaau said the Prime Minister’s top priorities included fighting illicit drugs, improving education standard, health and economic development.

He said the Prime Minister’s roading project was part of the economic development

There were requests from Tongatapu 2 for the government to equip and upgrade some of their churches’ halls which also acted as evacuation centres.

Hon. Lavemaau said locals could write and apply for assistance for evacuation centres through his office.

He said 73 street lights from Ha’atafu to Nuku’alofa were expected to be replaced, starting last week.

He said an elderly asked to put street lights in her road and the government would provide them.

Hon. Lavemaau also said the duty and tax free status the government had granted to imported building materials would end on March 12.

He said while the government was working to extend it to December 2020, people could write to him and asked to have their building materials made exempt from duty.

Tonga suspected coronavirus tests negative

By
Kalino Latu
-

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa has revealed this morning that the patient admitted to Vaiola Hospital showing signs of coronavirus has tested negative for the disease.

He said that at 4.30pm Sunday 8, March the Ministry of Health received the result of the test conducted by the Victorian Infectious Diseawse Reference Laboratory in Australia on sample taken from a 21-year-old woman in Tonga and it was negative or non reactive.

He said another sample was taken from the same patient after 48 hours from the time the sample from her was taken and sent to Australia, was sent to a lab in New Zealand on Saturday 7 March for another test. This was made according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) advice, Hon Tu’i’onetoa said.

It was expected the result from the New Zealand test will be received in Tonga today Tuesday 9 March.

The Prime Minister said WHO has provided Tonga with 30 Infrared Non-Contact Thermometer to be used at the Fua’amotu International Airport for screening of passengers arriving from overseas countries.

He said the same equipment would also be used for the public at Vaiola hospital’s reception.

The government was expected to receive today March 9 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect staff from the virus, the Prime Minister said.

The Taliai Camp at Fua’amotu airport has been set up as a quarantine building for any novel Covid-19 patient.

Meanwhile, WHO has provided basic protective measures against the new coronavirus on its website.

This including:

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Practice respiratory hygiene

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

 

PM’s Tongatapu 2 Meeting: Drainage, footpaths, water and special care for those who relocated to Tongatapu were urgent needs.

By
Kalino Latu
-

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Kiliki ‘i he halangaope ‘i ‘olunga’ ke ke fanongo ki he fakataha ‘a e kāinga Tongatapu 2’ mo e ‘Eiki Palēmia’ ‘i he lea fakaTonga’
Audios of the Prime Minister’s meeting in Tongatapu 2 were provided by the Prime Minister’s office and transcribed and translated into English by Kaniva News. This English version of the audios had been abridged.

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PM’s Tongatapu 2 Meeting: Drainage, footpaths, water, road repairs, streetlights and special care for those who relocated to Tongatapu were urgent needs.

Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa said most roads in Tongatapu 2 were in good condition.

He said he estimated that only 30 kilometres of roads in the area needed to be filled and sealed. The Prime Minister also said there was an urgent need for water tanks and that this need was common to Tongatapu 2, Tongatapu 3, and Tongatapu 4 residents.

He said there was a problem with some of the new footpaths because according to maps some had power poles in the middle.

He said some footpaths needed to be upgraded because they had sharp kerbs.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said there was an issue after Tonga Power Board and footpath contractors were in dispute over who should pay for the work to move the power poles.

The Prime Minster said three things needed to be done before constructing footpaths.

Firstly, the constructor had to obtain authorisation from the Minister of Lands to begin construction. Secondly there had to be a process of identifying and labelling power poles, footpaths and the roads. The final part was to request the Tonga Power Board to move power poles to their correct positions.

This work had to be done  before drains could  be dug.

The Prime Minister said Tonga had no laws regarding footpaths.

Footpath Bills

He said he thanked the Minister of Infrastructure for proposing laws for footpaths. Bills were expected to be submitted to Parliament in two months.

The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Infrastructure had corrected footpath maps in December last year and these were used for the new  footpaths in Ha’ateiho.

Hon Tu’i’onetoa said the new footpaths were different from previous ones, which showed the issues had been resolved.

He also said drainage work in some areas in Tongatapu 2 needed to be repaired as past floods showed they did not work.

Outer islanders relocating to Tongatapu 2

The Prime Minister said there were people in Tongatapu 2 who were relocating from the outer islands and they need help to fill their swampy tax allotments. He said these people needed to be provided with special urgent care.

In his first meeting with the Tongatapu 2 constituents since he was appointed Prime Minister in October 2019, Hon Tu’i’onetoa said he could not be a good leader unless he met with them face to face.

He said this was important because these were the people to  whom he was accountable. He was the people’s Prime Minister and they were the people that mattered to him most.

Parable from the Bible

The Prime Minister quoted the parable from the Holy Bible about the shepherd who left his flock of 99 sheep in order to find the one which was lost.

Jesus was the Good Shepherd and he knew his sheep, he said.

Hon. Tu’i’onetoa said in their meetings with other constituencies people revealed they found it difficult to talk to civil servants.

He said the people were happy to see he met them to hear their urgent needs directly.

He told the Tongatapu 2 he was meeting them because they were his sheep and he wanted to feed and give them drinks.

He said he did not have to stay in his  office all the time.

The Prime Minister said despite having abundant work to do he would not be satisfied unless he met all the people of the 17 constituencies in Tonga.

He said he would meet them again in a fono organised for the whole of Tonga.

Other concerns

Other concerns from Tongatapu 2 included asking the government to post a town officer for Fanga ‘O Pilolevu.

There was a complaint to the Prime Minister about loud music played and fireworks being let off near churches while they were having prayer services.

There was a need for the Fanga O Pilolevu’s public cemetery to be extended and long standing drainage issues that had to be addressed.

A Fanga ‘O Pilolevu resident said when there was flooding some vehicles stalled while driving through the floodwaters at St Andrew’s School.

A woman asked the government to put more pedestrian crossings on their Fanga ‘O Pilolevu’s Taufa’āhau road and renew paints of the pedestrian markings.

Some Tofoa and Havleuloto residents asked the Prime Minister to seal and repair their roads and provide solar powered lights to some areas. They said some young girls had been abducted from their houses during the night.

A resident in Kolofo’ou asked the Prime Minister to put speed humps on their Hala ‘Unga road to slow speeding vehicles to safe speeds.

Infrastructure CEO suspended with no pay in latest round of years-long battle to keep job

By
Philip Cass
-

The CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ringo Fa’oliu, has been suspended without pay.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission Simione Sefanaia said Fa’oliu had been suspended following a complaint about his services.

Sefania told the Tonga Broadcasting Commission the PSC was investigating the complaint filed against Fa’oliu.

Fa’oliu was  CEO of the Ministry from 2012 to 2015.

He was not reappointed in 2015 after the then Commission chairman, Mr ‘Uhila Liava’a, wrote to the Minister claiming a series of reports indicated that during Fa’oliu’s term there had been failures to comply with procurement procedures, significant overpayments to contractors and the inappropriate use of daily paid workers.

As Kaniva news reported at the time, Fa’oliu launched a legal challenge that ended with a judicial declaration that the PSC’s decision was unlawful.

Lord Chief Justice Paulsen said the PSC decision to cancel the reappointment of Fa’oliu was biased and partial.

He said Liava’a had sat on the Committee that prepared one of the reports that reflected badly on Fa’oliu’s fitness to be CEO of the Ministry, the judge said.

He then sat on the Commission to consider Fa’oliu’s appointment and was likely to have already formed a view that Fa’oliu was not a suitable person to be reappointed to that role.

“I think any fair minded observer would conclude that Liava’a was likely to have had a biased disposition towards Fa’oliu,” the judge said.

The main points

  • The CEO of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ringo Fa’oliu, has been suspended without pay.
  • Fa’oliu was  CEO of the Ministry from 2012 to 2015.

For more information

CEO of Infrastructure suspended

CEO of Infrastructure suspended

Govt official who successfully sued PSC returns to Infrastructure’s CEO role

Govt official who successfully sued PSC returns to Infrastructure’s CEO role

Supreme Court declares Public Service Commission’s decision on CEO was unlawful

Supreme Court declares Public Service Commission’s decision on CEO was unlawful

No word on coronavirus test; WHO warns lack of protective gear endangers health workers

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.

And while Tonga waits, the World Health Organisation has warned that the shortage of masks and other protective equipment was putting the lives of health wormers at risk.

As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney. on Monday.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Health authorities are looking for people the woman has had contact with in Tonga, as well as passengers on the aircraft she arrived on.

Risk

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that Tonga is one of 46 countries to receive additional supplies of personal protective equipment from the international body.

Other Pacific nations to receive help include Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The WHO warned that severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment– caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding and misuse – was putting lives at risk.

“Healthcare workers rely on personal protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from being infected and infecting others,” the WHO said.

“But shortages are leaving doctors, nurses and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for COVID-19 patients, due to limited access to supplies such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns and aprons.”

Cruise ship ban

Weeks after Tonga turned away three cruise ships, Customary authorities in Wallis and Futuna have banned a planned visit by a German cruise ship to protect the population against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The cruise ship Soleal is scheduled to sail from French Polynesia via the Cook Islands, Samoa and Wallis to Fiji.

The main points

  • Tonga has yet to receive results of the suspected coronavirus sample sent to New Zealand.
  • As Kaniva news reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa  confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

Acclaimed Tongan documentary about family differences to be shown in United States

By
Philip Cass
-

Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.

The film, which has already been screened  at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

The film has been described as ”an intimate, clear-eyed documentary centred on the faith, love and fatherhood of Saia Mafile’o, and his four children.”

In the film Mafile’o remains dedicated to his island culture and gives everything he can to his church, something which has caused deep divisions in this family

The Auckland Film Festival said last year: “In trying to understand her father, director Vea Mafile’o and Jeremiah Tauamiti capture a moving story about generational difference, resilience and unconditional love.”

Last November the film was screened to US-based Tongan Methodist Ministers and community leaders who believed the film would provide an opportunity to bring different generations of the Tongan diaspora together.

The ministers were former classmates of Saia.

Vea Mafile’o said although the film examined her father’s unwavering love for Tonga, the documentary was a universal story that all viewers could identify with.

“This movie really shows the different issues that a lot of our Pacific people face, be it cultural identity, generational disconnection, sacrifice, faith, family and the challenges we face as the diaspora and the children of the diaspora,” she said.

 “The film doesn’t have all the answers, but it provides a space and gives permission for hard tricky things to be talked about. It covers a number of themes but our main take away would be that communication is key, take down the barriers, make real connections, young and old but always come from a place of love.”

Film makers

PCF CEO Don Mann said he hoped For My Father’s Kingdom would encourage a generation of Pacific filmmakers to produce their own stories.

“Advances in technology enables those in the creative sector to think globally,” Mann said.

“As natural story tellers, there is a real opportunity for Pacific filmmakers to have a meaningful place in the global creative sector.”

For My Father’s Kingdom was funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and is distributed by Rialto Distribution.

The main points

  • Tongan documentary For My Father’s Kingdom will be screened in the United States.
  • The film, which has already been screened at the Berlin and Auckland international films festivals, is being toured through the United States with support from the Pacific Cooperation Foundation.

For more information

For My Father’s Kingdom Facebook page

For My Father's Kingdom Official Trailer

🇱🇷🚨Update: We are coming to the USA! Saia his son Robert & daughter Vea will be screeing in San Francisco, Utah, L.A, Los Vegas, Rino, Arizona, Texas & Hawaii 🚨Stay tuned for updates!! Ofa atuWe are so excited to finally launch the trailer for our film – FOR MY FATHERS KINGDOM! 🇹🇴This is an authentic Tongan🇹🇴 and Pacific story honouring the legacy and sacrifice of our parents. Help us spread the word far and wide by tagging your siblings cousins, Kainga, and village! 🙌🇫🇯🇳🇺🇼🇸🇨🇰🇹🇻🇵🇬🇸🇧🇰🇮🇳🇿🇺🇸🇭🇲🇹🇴#ForMyFathersKingdom #fmfk #TonganFilm #pacificwomenfilmmakers #pacificfilm #Tonganpride #pacificpride #secondgenerationislanders #loveourelders #polynesian #micronesians

Posted by For My Father's Kingdom on Thursday, June 20, 2019

New Zealand International Film Festival

https://www.nziff.co.nz/2019/archive-5/for-my-fathers-kingdom/

Italy Closes Down Schools in New Virus Containment Effort: Ansa

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Alessandro Speciale and John Follain; Bloomberg.com

Italy will shut down schools across the country until mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, newswire Ansa reported.

The closure, which starts Thursday, is aimed at tackling the outbreak of the highly contagious disease, which has killed 79 people in the country and crippled the rich northern regions.

As many as 8.7 million children and students will be affected from kindergarten to high schools and universities, as well as their families. Many in the afflicted regions, from Milan to Venice and Bologna, are already confined at home.

The Italian decision follows up on Japan, which is enforcing a complete school shutdown due to last until April. It will will deal a further blow to an economy that was already headed for recession. The government, according to an official, is studying a stimulus package worth 3.6 billion euros ($4 billion) and pushing its deficit above 2.4% of gross domestic product.

Prime Minister confirms first suspected case of coronavirus; WHO staff treating patient

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
-

The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.

The suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday, the Minister of Health, Prof ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu told Kaniva News this evening.

The Minister said samples were being sent to New Zealand for testing.

The woman had flu-like symptoms in Australia, but her symptoms became worse when she got to Tongatapu. The woman went to Vaiola Hospital last week where she was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The Minister’s comments came after she and Prime Minister Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa held a press conference this afternoon in Nuku’alofa to brief media on the Covid-19 coronavirus response.

Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akauola said World Health Organisation staff were in Tonga to train staff in handling the coronavirus. They were now treating the patient.

Ministry officials were tracing people she might have had contact with in Tonga.

Border controls

Tonga has already introduced strict border controls and  turned away visitors.

The government recently told three cruise ships not to dock after the virus broke out on another cruise liner, Diamond Princess, which was eventually quarantined in Japan.

The Ministry of Health has said an outbreak of coronavirus in Tonga was likely to cause a high death toll and have serious economic consequences.

On Tuesday the World Health Organisation warned of a global shortage of protective equipment to fight the disease.

The main points

  • The Tongan government has confirmed that health authorities have identified the kingdom’s first suspected case of coronavirus.
  • Tongan media reported this evening that the suspect is a 21 year-old Tongan woman who flew into the kingdom from Sydney on Monday.

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