Kiribati has 230 new Covid-19 cases
Three people have now died from Covid-19 in the last seven days in Kiribati, as the country recorded over 230 cases over the weekend.
The number of elderly i-Kiribati people admitted to hospitals for medical care also continues to increase.
The health ministry confirms there has been a total of 2,548 positive infections across the atoll islands.
Authorities say one person is currently in a coma at the Betio hospital, while two others are admitted at the Tungaru Central Hospital.
They also confirm 314 people have recovered from the virus.
The government extended the lockdown period by another week on Friday.
Covid-19 cases in French Polynesia continue to rise
The incidence of Covid-19 in French Polynesia has again more than doubled within a week, with the latest figures showing 2,800 new cases in two days.
The health authorities say there are 5,557 active cases.
They say 12 people are in hospital with serious Covid-19 problems, including three in intensive care.
A further 37 people, who tested positive for the virus, are in hospital for other ailments.
Vaccinations have continued and almost 79 percent of those 12 years and older have been fully vaccinated, while inoculations have been started for children five years and older.
The French vaccine pass is needed to enter venues, restricting the options of those who decline vaccinations.
PCR tests for travellers to French Polynesia are no longer required, but antigen tests are still needed before a flight and on arrival.
Solomon Islands govt Covid-19 measures includes reopening casinos
The Solomon Islands opposition leader Matthew Wale is horrified the governments allowing casinos to reopen while churches stay closed.
Matthew Wale the MP for Aoke Langa Langa, who is one of the two candidates contesting the prime ministerial election in Solomon Islands on Wednesday 24 April. Photo: Island Sun/Charles Kadamana
On Saturday the government announced that churches, bars and night-clubs in the Honiara Emergency zone will stay shut, except for casinos.
This comes as Covid-19 rips through Solomon Islands, especially in the capital.
As of late last week there were more than 4,000 cases in the country and at least 50 deaths.
Mr Wale claims the exemption for the casinos is purely political to support businesses with links to the government.
He asks how casinos can be any different from churches in terms of helping spread covid.
'We have prepared for this,' says Cook Islands PM
The Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown says it's likely that a person who tested positive to Covid-19 was infectious while visiting.
The infected person was in the Cook Islands for eight days, is fully vaccinated and first developed symptoms in the early hours of Monday 7 February, the day he departed Rarotonga.
Mr Brown said it's likely that the virus is in our community.
He said we have prepared for this, and we will follow the procedures and processes to deal with this.
The flight the passenger left Rarotonga on February 7 - is a place of interest.