Regional
The Samoa government has confirmed another positive case following the latest round of tests, a frontline nurse in isolation.
Samoa has 31 positive Covid-19 cases in MIQ, a majority who were passengers on a flight from Brisbane.
The latest COVID-19 case is a local nurse who was working in a...
Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Observer reported yesterday that police are probing a quarantine breach by a nurse and a driver. Late Monday afternoon, Samoa News received the following statement from Samoa’s National Emergency Operation Center:
"On Saturday afternoon, 29 January, the Disaster Finance Team...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — The Kingdom of Tonga will go into nationwide lockdown from 6pm on Wednesday.
Speaking via Tongan radio, Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku and Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala held a media conference on Tuesday night to announce the news.
They confirmed that two cases of Covid-19...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Poor weather conditions are preventing a team of engineers from repairing a damaged microwave link on the uninhabited island of Kao in Tonga.
The microwave link would restore telecommunications in the Vava'u and Ha'apai group of islands, which have been cut-off from the outside...
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa lifted the nationwide lockdown at 6 o'clock last night (Friday in Samoa) with a new level of restriction in place with no community transmission of COVID-19 yesterday.
In announcing the move Friday morning, Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa confirmed that work and businesses...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Tonga's King Tupou VI is urging his people to unify and rise from the ashes of the volcanic eruption and tsunami which devastated the country two weeks ago.
"Where there's a will, there's a way," the King said.
The King was evacuated to his residence inland at 'Eua, just moments...
Apia, SAMOA — Samoa extended its nationwide lockdown on Wednesday for another 24 hours as a precautionary measure with the 26 positive COVID-19 cases in managed isolation.
The Samoa Observer is reporting today that Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced the government decision after a...
Apia, SAMOA — As of Jan 25, (yesterday in Samoa), 26 positive cases have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health for Samoa.
All of them are being managed and controlled in quarantine. Currently there is no evidence of a community transmission.
All passengers and frontline workers were swabbed...
Apia, SAMOA — A doctor says Samoa is well-prepared to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the community.
Samoa went into a two-day lockdown on Saturday after 15 people on a flight from Brisbane tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival.
University of Otago Pacific health director professor Faumuina...
Nuku'alofa, TONGA — Tonga faces a long road to recovery, with most of the population affected by the violent eruption and tsunami that followed, and many areas still scrambling to restore basic necessities.
Almost 85 percent of the country's population of about 105,000 people has been affected by...



![The HMAS Adelaide sitting alongside a wharf in Nuku'alofa to deliver medical supplies following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano and a subsequent tsunami. [photo: AFP via RNZ] The HMAS Adelaide sitting alongside a wharf in Nuku'alofa](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tonga_port_web.jpg?itok=uzVL1Es1)
![Digicel Tonga’s technical team working on satellite link equipment to restore internet connection [photo: Digicel Tonga] Digicel Tonga’s technical team working on satellite link equipment](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/digicel_tech_team.jpg?itok=D0al3hM7)

![The seafront section of the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa is blanketed in ash and there's damage to the fence and grounds from the tsunami that followed the volcanic eruption on January 15. [photo: Matangi Tonga] Royal Palace in Tonga after volcanic eruption and tsunami](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/tonga_royal_palace_after_volcano_web.jpg?itok=6BkdKJjM)



![Volcanic ash covering the port at Nuku'alofa on 18 January [photo: Handout / Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies / AFP] Satellite image of Nuku'alofa port after volcano eruption](https://samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/ash_at_nukualofa_port_web.jpg?itok=qHUJXe8j)