Tonga extends lockdown
Shops and petrol stations throughout Tonga are expecting long queues today, as Covid lockdown restrictions on shopping are temporarily lifted.
The restrictions are suspended between 5am and 8pm.
A hard lockdown, requiring nearly all businesses to shut, has been in effect on the main island of Tongatapu and Vava'u since 20th March. Although pharmacies, medical facilities and news agencies have been exempt. On Friday it was extended until 2nd April.
The lockdown also requires the general public to self-isolate, and imposes an 8pm to 8am curfew.
The only allowable reasons for breaking self-isolation are subsistence farming and fishing, obtaining medical supplies, and receiving a vaccination.
Currently, Tonga has 2,783 active cases of Covid-19.
The Health Ministry has recorded three Covid related deaths in the Kingdom
Over 200 Covid-19 cases detected in American Samoa prison
The American Samoa Health Department has reported 226 Covid-19 positive cases at the territory's only adult prison. Currently 296 inmates are housed there.
Authorities in American Samoa said they are continuously implementing mitigation measures to prevent further spread of Covid-19.
This includes designating separate spaces for inmates who test positive.
The first Covid-related death was recorded this week in American Samoa.
Samoa's Covid cases now in the hundreds
Samoa's Ministry of Health has confirmed 93 new Covid-19 cases.
This brings the total number of community cases to 841, with 814 cases confirmed on Upolu and 27 on Savaii.
Samoa government extends lockdown Photo: Government of Samoa
The Ministry said of the 841 community cases - 827 remain active cases.
The islands of Manono and Apolima remain Covid-19 free.
Seventeen Police officers and civilian staff have tested positive to Covid-19.
TV1 Samoa reports that Assistant Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo confirmed this.
Three Covid-19 related deaths recorded in New Caledonia
New Caledonia has recorded three new Covid-19 related deaths, bringing the total number of deaths since last September to 310.
There are 48 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of active cases in the territory since last September to 60,132.
22 people are in hospital and 2 are in the ICU.
CNMI records 32nd Covid-related death
The Northern Marianas has confirmed the islands' 32nd Covid-19 related death.
There are currently 133 active cases in the Commonwealth, and seven individuals are in hospital.
Twelve additional people have tested positive for Covid. This brings the total to nearly 11,000 cases since March 2020.
