Residents on Tonga's main island are being urged to prepare for a potential lockdown next week after the Pacific nation recorded its very first case of COVID-19 on Friday.
The person arrived in Tonga on a commercial flight from Christchurch on Wednesday, a city that has now recorded four cases of COVID-19. They tested positive for the virus at the Tanoa International Dateline Hotel, a managed isolation and quarantine facility in the capital, Nuku'alofa, on Tongatapu. They were tested on Thursday and returned their positive result on Friday.
Prime Minister Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa is now encouraging locals to use the weekend to prepare for possible restrictions.
"The reason the lockdown won't happen this weekend is because I have been advised that the virus will take more than three days to develop in someone who catches it before they become contagious," Dr Tu'i'onetoa said.
"We should use this time to get ready in case more people are confirmed they have the virus."
When health officials were alerted to the initial two new cases in Christchurch on Thursday, frontline staff who had been working at Fua'amotu Airport when the flight arrived were asked to self-isolate in their homes, Tonga's Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said on Friday.
Following the news that a passenger on the flight had tested positive in Tonga, the workers were transferred to a quarantine facility.
It's hoped the quick action may have prevented further transmission, with Dr 'Akau'ola saying the workers "should be safe" from spreading the virus as they still have to go through their incubation periods before becoming infectious.
"Frontliners should be safe because even if say the [bus] driver returned home that night, and whether he wore PPE or not, if he contracted the virus then there is that incubation period where it grows, becoming infectious three or more days after. That is why I think they are alright," Dr 'Akau'ola said, as reported by local news outlet Matangi Tonga Online.
According to New Zealand's Ministry of Health, the period from exposure until the first positive test is shorter for the highly infectious Delta variant. On average, a person may be infectious for one to two days before they develop symptoms - some people, who are asymptomatic, never develop symptoms.
It has not yet been confirmed if the person is carrying the Delta variant, however Dr 'Akau'ola said officials are "assuming" the person is infected with the strain.
New Zealand's Ministry of Health has said the person is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
"We have acted swiftly in just a day," he said. "Our front-liners are trained and have been fully vaccinated.
"The person is fully vaccinated and their protection level will be up two weeks after this second shot.
"We are satisfied despite this person being positive, we believe the person would not get seriously ill and reach a dangerous level."
Locals can still get their vaccinations over the weekend, including on Sunday, even if lockdown restrictions are introduced.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Ministry of Health has confirmed the person returned a negative pre-departure test prior to leaving Aotearoa. They received their second dose of the vaccine on October 15.
Passengers on the flight included seasonal workers returning to Tonga and members of Tonga's Olympic team, who had been stranded in Christchurch. All others on-board were also required to provide a negative result at least 72 hours before departure, and presented their vaccination cards prior to boarding. The Olympic team were fully vaccinated before they departed for the Olympics, Dr 'Akau'ola said.
Uncontrolled spread could be 'catastrophic'
The news of a confirmed case in the Kingdom of Tonga is "heartbreaking", says Wellington-based immunologist Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, a senior lecturer in pathology and molecular medicine and the Head of the Pacific Office at the University of Otago in Wellington.
The positive test marks the very first case of COVID-19 for Tonga, a Pacific nation that has managed to protect its people "by keeping the virus out of the country for so long", she said.
Dr Sika-Paotonu is concerned that if the case is not contained, the potential consequences could be "catastrophic".
"What is concerning also is that the COVID-19 case originated from Aotearoa New Zealand-Christchurch… this development likely indicates more COVID-19 spread in the Christchurch community than is currently being reflected," she said.
Another two cases of the virus, who are close contacts of the initial two cases, were recorded on Friday. Thirteen other close contacts have been identified and are now self-isolating.
Dr Sika-Paotonu says the spread of the Delta variant cannot be allowed to spiral out of control in Tonga.
"Everyone, please get vaccinated, please get tested, please follow the alert level rules, and importantly, help others around you to do the same," she said.
