Several hundred more cases of Covid in Solomon Islands; Kiribati records first Covid death; nearly 12,000 in isolation in New Caledonia, and more.
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Tonga confirms 34 cases of Covid-19
There are now 34 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tonga.
Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku announced the new number of cases at a media conference in Nuku'alofa this afternoon.
CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Health Siale 'Akau'ola gave the details of the 20 new cases - eight are from the village of Sopu, six from the village of Vaini, seven from Pili, and one from the Nuku'alofa suburb of Fasi.
88 percent of Tonga's population over the age of 12 have been double vaccinated.
The Prime Minister said 97 percent of the eligible population had had one dose.
He said over 9000 booster doses were received from New Zealand on Saturday and 55,000 had been committed by Australia.
Several hundred more cases of Covid in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands recorded another 349 cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to yesterday morning.
The Health Minister Culwick Togamana said this takes the number of people contracting the virus since the outbreak began last month to 3,667.
He said the majority of the most recent cases have been recorded in Honiara where he says there is now very high community transmission.
Kiribati records first Covid death
Kiribati has announced its first Covid-19 death and 207 new cases in the community.
There are now almost 2000 positive infections, with more than 50 percent of those recorded in the last five days.
The Ministry of Health says the victim was an 80-year-old woman who had been hospitalised at an isolation centre.
The ministry said the woman had only received the first dose of her Covid-19 vaccination.
Another woman, who is over 60-years-old, has been admitted and is being monitored at the Bikenibeu Isolation Centre.
The government is advising people to "take extra care and look after their elderly parents and relatives."
Tahiti records over 1000 new Covid-19 cases
French Polynesia has recorded 1058 new cases of Covid-19 over the last 72 hours bringing the total number of active cases to 2974.
One death has been recorded - the first since October, taking the death toll to 637.
More than a third of the Covid-19 cases are the Omicron variant.
Four people are in hospital and one person in ICU.
78.6 percent of the population has been vaccinated.
Nearly 12,000 in isolation in New Caledonia
New Caledonia has recorded a further 2343 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, raising the number of active cases to nearly 12,000.
38 people are now in hospital, including two in intensive care.
The spread of the Omicron variant started a month ago and is yet to peak.
66 percent of the population is vaccinated.
Since September, there have been more than 30,000 recorded infections.
FSM calls a halt to flights from neighbouring Guam
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has indefinitely stopped all incoming repatriation flights from Guam.
FSM's Covid-19 Taskforce said the move is in response to the high number of coronavirus infections in the US Territory.
In a statement the taskforce said it is essential for FSM to improve its vaccination rates before re-starting flights to bring back citizens stranded in its neighbour.
The government said it will provide assistance for citizens who are stuck in Guam, but not provide further details at this stage.
Covid-19 vaccines are mandatory on the islands of FSM - meaning all citizens residing in the FSM must be vaccinated.
FSM's public health emergency has been extended until the end of May.
Partial border re-opening in the CNMI
The Northern Marianas has reopened its borders for fully vaccinated people.
The changes to the border protocols were made possible with 99 percent of CNMI's eligible population now fully vaccinated, and 53 percent having had booster shots.
CNMI's Covid-19 Taskforce said all travellers entering the country by air or sea will no longer be tested on arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers, however, will be required to quarantine at home and get tested at a community based testing site five days after arrival.
All visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands will also need to complete a mandatory health declaration and upload their vaccination status.
Authorities say the health and safety of residents remain the top priority of the government.
The CNMI has recorded over 6,300 cases and 23 deaths
