Tonga has four active cases in the community and the country is in lockdown but COVID-19 isn't getting in the way of the New Zealand Defence Force's mission.
The HMNZS Canterbury is anchored off Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa continuing work as usual - converting seawater to drinking water.
"Working in lockdown from our perspective since we're at sea has no impact. We've been operating in a contactless manner throughout this entire operation," NZDF operation Pacific relief group captain Nick Olney said.
But for Broadcom broadcasting reporter Marian Kupu who is on the island, it's a different story, streets are bare except for essential workers.
"It feels like Sunday here in Tonga, because normally on Sunday nothing is open."
It's been revealed the COVID positive port workers in Tonga visited shops, a kindergarten and went to church before testing positive for COVID-19.
Tonga has four active cases that's down from five yesterday following one of the port workers recovering from the virus.
The original pair had been at Queen Salote Wharf, where imported goods are unloaded.
Vuna Wharf is mainly where Foreign aid vessels have been stationed, which means there may be no COVID link to the international recovery effort.
Kupu said the infected port workers visited multiple busy locations while infectious.
"Which includes shops, liquor stores, a bank, kindergarten school and also church," Kupu said.
20 days have passed since the eruption and tsunami rocked Tonga and the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Olney told Newshub surveyors have found significant obstructions along the seafloor.
"They have identified swept away buildings, cars and shipping containers, none of which has proven to be a hazard to shipping so they've been able to clear and open the harbours."
The Ha'apai Island group remains largely cut off like the rest of Tonga, with bad weather slowing work down to repair networks on nearby Kao Island.
"Unfortunately the weather at the top of the island has continued to preclude us getting the engineers and equipment required to the top of the mountain," Olney said.
