Police officers in custody in American Samoa, Samoa's Director of Health issues warning, growing concerns for mental health in Tonga, tourists return to CNMI, PNG league player banned for 10 years, and Covid-19 spreads to Manu'a.
Two police officers arrested in American Samoa
Two police officers in American Samoa were arrested and are in custody for the alleged assault of two teenagers.
American Samoa police headquarters Photo: Supplied
Samoa News reports that officer Sione Satini and detective Vegas Pearson were arrested for the alleged assault of two teenage males who were suspected of being in a group fight and throwing stones.
The mother of one of the teenagers filed a complaint with police.
Satini was charged with third degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child and bail was set at $USD2,000.
Pearson was charged with two counts of abuse of a child, two counts of third degree assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and Pearson's bail was set at $USD20,000.
Samoa's Director of Health issues warning to parents
Samoa's Director of Health is warning parents not to let their guard down with vaccinations for young children, including measles and polio.
TV1Samoa reports Leausa Dr Take Naseri gave the warning during the weekly Ministry of Health educational programme.
Leausa said the Ministry was concerned people are focussed on Covid-19 and neglecting other necessary vaccinations for children that were available at hospitals around the country.
Covid-19 case numbers rise in Samoa
There are 644 new cases of Covid-19 recorded in Samoa taking the overall total of community Covid-19 cases to 8,923.
The Ministry of Health said the latest cases were recorded between April 24 and April 27 and included one new positive case detected at the border.
There were 19 patients in managed isolation and one person in intensive care at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Apia.
Covid-19-related deaths in Samoa remain at 16 and the Ministry of Health said this total was subject to change.
Growing concern for mental health in Tonga
There are growing concerns about the psychological well-being of Tongans in the wake of January's volcanic eruption and tsunami.
Aid agencies on the ground were reporting a need to rehabilitate people who were psychologically affected by the eruption and tsunami.
Their distress was made worse by the tough Covid-19 lockdown restrictions being applied in the Kingdom, said Tonga Red Cross Secretary General, Sione Taumoefolau.
"You know together with the event of January 15, the Covid-19 arrived in Tonga in February. So it's a combination of two double disasters for Tonga. So you are not only trying to recover from what happened with the tsunami but also have the Covid-19. And it all adds on to what we are doing in that area...so that's the reality," Taumoefolau said.
Tourists begin to return to CNMI
Tourists are beginning to return in bigger numbers to the Northern Marianas.
Visitor numbers climbed more than 1000 percent to 4,155 visitors last month compared with 244 visitors in March last year.
Northern Marianas reopens borders to tourists from South Korea, with some restricted provisions. July 2021 Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Mark Rabago
However the Marianas Visitors Authority said the figure was still way down on March 2019 when 35,295 visitors arrived.
Most visitors in March this year came from South Korea.
The Marianas Visitors Authority was rebooting the Japanese market after the Japanese government eased quarantine requirements for returning residents.
PNG rugby league player banned for 10 years
A rugby league player has been banned for ten years in Papua New Guinea.
Goroka Lahanis player, Ake Palus, punched a referee during a PNGRFL sanctioned match in Goroka at the weekend.
Inside PNG says two media officials are barred from entering PNGRLC and PNGRFL matches for the next five years.
In statement PNG National Rugby League Competition Manager, Ora Gairo, said it was conclusive that back rower, Ake Palus, had punched match referee, Max Topani.
The report also said that the two media officials had also assaulted the referee.
The competition has also suspended home games in Goroka for an indefinite period.
Covid-19 spreads to Manu'a in American Samoa
Confirmation that Covid-19 has been reported on Ta'u in the Manu'a islands of American Samoa.
A senior Department of Health official said there were two confirmed cases from the village of Faleasao.
Manu'a had remained Covid-free since the first community case was reported in American Samoa on February 21.
A teacher on Tu'a said that some parents have kept their children from school after hearing about the positive cases.
It's understood travellers from Manu'a to Tutuila for a funeral tested negative before they flew back to Manu'a but then fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19 once home.