Radio & TV Tonga, Nuku’alofa, 04/09/2020

The Health Minister has confirmed to Radio Tonga news this afternoon the 45 passengers that arrived in Tonga this week from Fiji and Kiribati have all tested negative again for the second time.

Dr. ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu says, these passengers had their second tests taken at the Tano’a hotel on Wednesday and the results were announced this afternoon, showing they remained COVID-19 free.

These included the 38 passengers from Fiji and the 7 from Kiribati.

Meanwhile, the Health Director says, the chartered flight from the Solomon Islands is expected to arrive in Tonga tomorrow with 25 passengers.

Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola says, the passengers from the Solomon Islands include missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that were serving there.

The flight will also stop by in Vanuatu to pick up Tongan students that were studying there before departing for Tonga.

This flight has been delayed numerous times over the past month as the passengers were initially set to arrive via a flight from Australia, however after negotiations between the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints and Solomon Airways they will now arrive tomorrow.

These passengers from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will be quarantined at the Tano’a Hotel together with the other passengers that arrived from Fiji and Kiribati this week.

The flight is expected to arrive at the Fua’amotu International Airport at 3:25 PM tomorrow.

© Radio and Television Tonga News