World
1News

Two more villages locked down in Tonga as Covid-19 spreads

By Barbara Dreaver, Pacific Correspondent
February 8, 2022

Tongan authorities are battling to contain the spread of Covid-19, locking down two villages as more cases emerge.

In a media conference on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said there are now 14 active cases, and another person had recovered.

The villages of Vaini and Pili, which have six new cases between them, have been designated red zones and residents are not permitted to leave the area.

The new cases are linked to previous cases.

There have been long queues of people at bread shops in the capital Nuku’alofa as residents are allowed to do shopping on Tuesday between 6am and 6pm.

In January Tonga was hit by a tsunami after the eruption of Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai.

WorldPacific IslandsCovid-19

SHARE ME

More Stories

HIV cases have increased at pace, tied to a rise in drug users injecting. Composite image: Vinay Ranchhod.

HIV, the 'explosive epidemic': Fiji suffers world's fastest spread

Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver investigates the drug-fuelled increase in cases of HIV in Fiji, and what the country is doing to tackle the problem.

Sat, Sep 13

4:03

1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver is in Honiara for the Pacific Islands Forum.

Pacific's top issues on agenda at leaders-only retreat

With a climate resilience fund and a high-level agreement on regional peace in the bag, Pacific leaders will finish up multi-day talks at a private retreat.

Thu, Sep 11

3:02

Nauru reboots passport sale scheme to fund climate fight

Nauru reboots passport sale scheme to fund climate fight

Applicants pay up to NZ$237,500 for Nauruan passports, offering visa-free access to several countries, as the island nation seeks new revenue to restore land and build resilience.

Sun, Sep 7

6:16

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

RFK Jr tries to defend Covid vaccine stance in raucous Senate hearing

US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr faced pointed bipartisan questioning at a rancorous three-hour Senate committee hearing on Friday.

Fri, Sep 5

So far, all the lava from this eruption has been contained within the summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Watch: Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts for 32nd time since December

So far, all the lava from this eruption has been contained within the summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Wed, Sep 3

2:24

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke

Australia signs $450m deportation deal with Nauru

It follows a fraught history as human rights organisations protest the deportation of people to the Micronesian island.

Sun, Aug 31

Latest

Popular

8:45pm

Activist flotilla heading to Gaza says drones attacked its boats

The Italian fleet of the Global Sumud Flotilla departs from the port of Siracusa, Italy. (Source: Sebastiano Diamante/LaPresse via AP)

8:30pm

Cape Palliser paper road: Vehicle ban gets the nod

The rugged and remote coastline east of Cape Palliser is loved by hikers, campers, surfers, fishers, and hunters. (Source: Piers Fuller)

8:15pm

Optus chief blames human error for triple-zero disaster

Optus chief blames human error for triple-zero disaster

7:44pm

As Western nations recognise Palestine state, Palestinians doubt its impact

Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. Riyad Mansour

7:26pm

Person critical after crash between bus and car in Tauranga

Person critical after crash between bus and car in Tauranga

7:22pm

Scientists discover a new dinosaur with a crocodile bone in its mouth

This image shows an artist's illustration of the newly discovered dinosaur Joaquinraptor casali with an ancient crocodile relative's front leg in its mouth.
1
2
3
4
5
6

More from Entertainment

Italian actress Claudia Cardinale attends a press conference during the 2nd Budapest Classic Film Marathon in Budapest, Hungary in 2018. (Source: Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP)

Claudia Cardinale, star of 8½ and The Leopard, dies at 87

She starred in more than 100 films and made-for-television productions, but she was best known for embodying youthful purity in Federico Fellini’s 8½.

7:00pm

This image released by Disney shows Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

Emotional Kimmel says he never intended to make light of Kirk's killing

Jimmy Kimmel returned to late-night television today after a nearly weeklong suspension.

4:38pm

Life and work melds for creative couple behind doco series on teen dads

Life and work melds for creative couple behind doco series on teen dads

Sat, Sep 20

Jimmy Kimmel poses in the press room with the award for host for a game show for "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" during night two of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

Jimmy Kimmel's talk show pulled over Charlie Kirk remarks

Thu, Sep 18

Chappell Roan arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Pop superstar Chappell Roan to headline Laneway in Auckland

Thu, Sep 18