トンガでコロナ感染者を初確認　首相、ロックダウン示唆

【ヌクアロファＡＦＰ＝時事】南太平洋の島国トンガのポヒバ・ツイオネトア首相は３０日、同国で新型コロナウイルスの感染者が初めて確認されたのを受け、国内最大の人口を抱える本島で来週にもロックダウン（都市封鎖）を実施する可能性を示唆した。（写真はトンガ・ヌクアロファで、新型コロナウイルスのワクチン接種の準備を進める医療従事者）
　トンガは、これまで新型コロナの感染者が確認されていない数少ない国の一つだったが、先日、ニュージーランドから帰国し、隔離期間を過ごしていた１人に感染が確認された。
　人口１０万６０００人の大半はトンガタプ島に住んでおり、２回のワクチン接種を済ませた国民は全体の３分の１に満たない。
　保健当局によれば、検査で陽性となった帰国者は、今月中旬に２回目のワクチン接種を受けていた。ニュージーランドの保健省は、クライストチャーチを出発する前の時点では陰性だったとしている。
　帰国便には、東京五輪に出場した後、クライストチャーチで足止めされていたトンガ代表チームも搭乗していた。選手は、五輪に出発する前に２回の接種を済ませていた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/11/01-15:45）

Tongans flocked to vaccination centres Saturday after the government warned the main island Tongatapu might be plunged into lockdown next week after recording its first case of Covid-19.
The infected person was among 215 people on a repatriation flight from the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
A routine test on arrival Thursday, while in compulsory managed isolation, returned a positive result the following day.
Prime Minister Pohiva Tuionetoa warned islanders Saturday to prepare for the possibility of a lockdown if more cases emerge but said there was no need for immediate action as it could take more than three days before a person with the virus becomes contagious.
We should use this time to get ready in case more people are confirmed they have the virus, he said.
The tiny Pacific kingdom, about 1,800 kilometres (1,100 miles) northeast of New Zealand, had been among only a handful of countries to escape the virus that has affected billions worldwide and claimed nearly five million lives.
Only about a third of Tonga's population of 106,000, most of whom live on Tongatapu, have been double vaccinated against Covid-19.
But news that the first case had been detected in managed isolation prompted thousands to rush to get vaccinated.
We've been to the community several times but only a few come to the site but yesterday and today was really good, really full, very best, Tonga's national immunisation coordinator Afu Tei said.
Almost 2,000 last night and today you can see the turnout is very good.
Health officials confirmed the infected Tongan had been double vaccinated, having received the second jab in mid-October.
Tonga health ministry chief executive Siale Akau'ola said that although it would be another two weeks before the second vaccination was fully effective, we believe the person would not get seriously ill and reach a dangerous level.
All health workers, police and airport staff who were on duty when the flight arrived have been put into quarantine as a precaution, Akau'ola said.
New Zealand's health ministry confirmed the infected person had tested negative before the flight left Christchurch, where there are only four known cases of Covid, all of them in the same household.
The repatriation flight included members of Tonga's Olympic team who had been stranded in Christchurch since the Tokyo Games.
The athletes were double vaccinated before they departed for the Olympics.