Solomon's mass vaccination and testing amid covid outbreak
Health authorities in Solomon Islands will conduct a mass Covid-19 vaccination and testing campaign amid a worsening outbreak of the virus.
The country's first two Covid-related deaths have been reported and there are currently 650 positive cases with the number expected to climb.
A four day lockdown is in force in the capital Honiara and suspected pockets of the virus are being investigated in the Malaita, Central and Western Provinces.
The Ministry of Health's Dr Yogesh Choudri said health workers are going door-to-door with Covid-19 vaccinations and rapid antigen testing kits are expected to arrive in the Solomon Islands today for the mass testing this week.
Dr Choudri said the aim is to try and keep the virus contained in the capital Honiara.
NZ Pasifika community encouraged to get Covid-19 boosters
New Zealand's Pasifika community is being encouraged to get Covid-19 boosters and make sure children from 5 to 11 years old are vaccinated too.
Pacific health leader, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, said with the Omicron variant now in the community in New Zealand the Pasifika community should ease up on mass gatherings and people should also upgrade their masks.
Dr Tukuitonga wants to find out what the uptake for booster shots is in the Pacific community in New Zealand.
Dr Tukuitonga chairs the Minister of Pacific People's expert group.
FSM delays upcoming repatriation flights
The Federated States of Micronesia has delayed upcoming repatriation flights to Pohnpei and Chuuk and cancelled flights to Kosrae and Yap.
The government said the first reason for the delay is due to the high rate of positive cases of Covid-19 being found in the pre-quarantine process so far.
It said the second reason for the delay is that Guam has been seeing new records of daily cases of Covid-19.
Guam is the location of the FSM's pre-quarantine site, the Covid-19 situation in Guam is used as the Government's litmus test to determine the risk of bringing Covid-19 into the FSM.
The FSM is also monitoring the rapidly evolving situation in many Pacific nations and territories as a result of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, and the new Covid-19 cases reported at the border in Samoa, and also in Kiribati.
PNG updates Covid-19 restrictions
PNG's Covid-19 response taskforce announced on Tuesday that there will be no limits on the number of people that can gather for "religious activities and essential services".
In a statement, Commissioner of Police and the Covid-19 response chief David Manning said the two categories will be exempt from a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than 100 people
Manning said the restrictions will remain until the end of February, as the country continues with efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
According to the latest update, there are over 36,000 active cases, and almost 600 deaths - but regional observers say the numbers are much higher than official figures suggest.
While vaccines are available to those over the age of 18, the uptake from those eligible has been slow, with only about 350,000 being fully inoculated.
Based on the 2011 census figure of a population of 7.25 million, it is thought that PNG's population could be about nine million by now.
Pacific online banking activity increases during lockdowns and Tongan tsunami and eruption
There's been a record number of online banking use in the Pacific following lockdowns in several nations and the Tongan tsunami and eruption.
ANZ has seen a 30-percent increase in Pacific internet banking customers, which comes after Samoa and Kiribaiti's nationwide lockdown, and recent Tonga events.
Banking has been unaffected by recent riots in the Solomon Islands.
ANZ banks in the Pacific are operational, in-line with government requirements with banks in Samoa back open tomorrow.
ANZ Regional Executive for the Pacific, Tessa Price said people can still access money in Tonga from their bank online or via ATM.
"In a matter of days they were operational again. Our Pacific team in Fiji were able to process the transactions. So our ATM's, Eftpos branch services and international transfers as well. That was very, very pleasing to see."
Price said satellite connection has meant people can easily send money to Tonga.
Tropical depression to affect New Caledonia over the next few days
A tropical depression is expected to hit New Caledonia from Thursday until Sunday.
Local meteorologists are trying to work out whether these events will evolve into a cyclone or remain at a strong tropical depression.
Weather warnings are currently set to yellow for the islands of Ouvea, Lifou, and Maré while the rest of New Caledonia still have green weather warning levels.
With the yellow weather warning, authorities advise against all activities on the water as well as activities outdoors.
Fijian Drua cancels trial match against Western Force
The Fijian Drua has cancelled the trial match against Western Force scheduled for Sunday 30 January in New South Wales.
Fijian Drua Interim CEO Brian Thorburn. Photo: Supplied
The cancellation follows advice from the Force, who are unable to travel in and out of Western Australia as earlier anticipated, due to the delay in the Western Australia border reopening.
Drua CEO Brian Thorburn said the Drua share the disappointment of fans and supporters and sincerely apologise to those planning a trip to watch the trial match.
Mr Thorburn said an internal practice match of two teams from the squad is planned and fans are welcome to watch at 4pm at the Ballina Rugby Union ground.
