Pacific

Covid-19 wrap in the Pacific

20:42 pm on 29 March 2022

Samoa

Samoa has recorded 125 new community cases of Covid-19.

The Ministry of Health said there are now 1,364 active cases.

The country's first community case was identified on March 17.

The Samoan government has extended a nation-wide lockdown until 5 April.

Samoa government extends lockdown Photo: Government of Samoa

Meanwhile Samoa's main hospital, in Apia, is under immense pressure as more front-line workers contract Covid-19.

TV1 Samoa reports that police, fire and emergency services are also struggling with staffing due to Covid.

Assistant commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo said more than 70 police officers and civilian staff have tested positive for Covid-19 so far.

American Samoa

A third person has died of Covid-19 in American Samoa.

KHJ News reported a male patient had been admitted to the Covid-19 Ward on March 22 and passed away yesterday. He was 70.

Community cases numbers in the US territory are now at 3,381 with 10 patients admitted to the covid ward.

Tonga

Tonga's Minister of Health, Saia Piukala, announced a total of 6,144 Covid cases have been recorded in the Kingdom including 297 cases since yesterday.

Mr Piukala said that the Ministry of Health has recorded six Covid deaths.

The vast majority of Covid cases, 5,953, were located on the main island of Tongatapu.

There were 162 Covid cases recorded in Vava'u and 29 in Ha'apai.

98 percent of the population have been vaccinated once, with 90 percent double vaccinated and 49 percent receiving their booster.

Meanwhile, a team of eight medical professionals from New Zealand leave for Tonga tomorrow.

The Pasifika Medical Association is sending an experienced Pacific medical team to help with the Kingdom's Covid-19 outbreak and will also offer mental health support.

Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands' Governor General Sir David Vunagi has signed a declaration extending the state of emergency in Solomon Islands.

The declaration was made following recommendations from Cabinet, as the existing SOE expired last Thursday.

According to the World Health Organisation there have been 10,778 cases of Covid-19 with 133 deaths in Solomon Islands.

French Polynesia

Another 137 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in French Polynesia in the last 72-hours

The health authorities say seven patients are in hospital.

The number of active cases has continued to decline and is now 502.

More than 80 percent of those 12 years and older have had two vaccinations.

The electronic registration system for travellers and the mandatory testing for arrivals at Tahiti's airport were abolished today.

Pandemic-related restrictions were further relaxed earlier this month, as more vaccination exemptions were granted.

Domestic travellers are no longer required to show a vaccine pass.

New Caledonia

New Caledonia has recorded another 49 Covid-19 cases, continuing this month's rapid decline in the number of new infections.

The latest figure, covering the past 24 hours, brings the total number of cases since September to 60,255.

The number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients is 16, of whom two are in intensive care.

The death toll remains at 311.

As of last weekend, it is no longer necessary to produce a health pass to enter hospitals and care centres, but masks must be worn.

While it is no longer mandatory to wear masks inside elsewhere, their continued use is recommended.