Disaster-hit Tonga goes into lockdown after detecting first local Covid case

The disaster-hit Tonga has gone into lockdown after detecting its first community transmissions of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni on Tuesday said, two port workers had tested positive. Meanwhile, officials later confirmed three more cases in family members. The South Pacific nation had previously managed to stay virus-free.

The outbreak comes as Tongans



try to recover from a deadly volcanic eruption and tsunami which left three dead and damaged homes and infrastructure.

Tonga had avoided Covid outbreaks by closing its borders to the outside world in early 2020. Meanwhile, since the eruption it has since been heavily dependent on foreign aid for supplies of fresh drinking water, shelter kits and rescue equipment.