01 Nov 2021 | 08:52 AM UTC
Tonga: Authorities to lockdown Tongatapu Island from Nov. 2 due to COVID-19 concerns
Officials in Tonga to implement lockdown on Tongatapu from Nov. 2 due to COVID-19 concerns. Plan for transport, business disruptions.
Event
Authorities in Tonga will enforce a lockdown on the main island of Tongatapu 00:01 Nov. 2-23:59 Nov. 8 after a repatriated passenger tested positive for COVID-19. The government has ordered all residents on the island to remain at home; exceptions are possible for essential workers to obtain essential goods, seek or provide medical services, and use financial services. Police will enforce a 20:00-06:00 nightly curfew. A gathering ban will come into effect; however, officials will permit funerals, with participants capped at 10 people indoors and 20 people outside.
Most retail and hospitality businesses must remain closed during the weeklong lockdown. Essential companies and services, such as supermarkets, utilities, and pharmacies, can continue to operate. Workers in these businesses are exempt from stay-at-home orders. Entertainment and cultural venues, as well as religious buildings, will remain closed.
Elsewhere in the country, indoor gatherings are limited to 50 people, while outdoor events can involve up to 100 people; exceptions exist for educational institutions and churches. A nightly 00:01-05:00 curfew remains in effect. Most nonessential businesses, like bars and gyms, have reopened. Authorities have suspended public transport nationwide, including flights between Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU) and outlying islands.
Travel Restrictions
An entry ban for most foreign nationals remains in place. Tongan citizens, permanent residents, and pre-approved international travelers can travel the country. International commercial flights, cruise ships, and yachts remain banned; however, some repatriation flights are operating. Inbound travelers must quarantine for 21 days. Arrivals must submit health declaration forms upon entry.
Advice
Follow all official orders. Obtain permission before traveling during curfew hours. Consider delaying travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.
