Repatriation flight from New Zealand suspended until further notice Featured
22 August, 2020. The public is hereby advised that the second repatriation flight from New Zealand tentatively scheduled for Tuesday next week, August 25 has been suspended until further notice.
The National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) / National Taskforce met this week and considered the increasing number of COVID-19 community transmission in Auckland.
It is understood that Pacific islanders bear the brunt of the new COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand and it has been announced that one Tongan has been tested positive.
Upon advice from the Ministry of Health, there is a high risk that COVID-19 will be imported to Tonga if the scheduled repatriation flight proceeds.
The Ministry of Health maintains to assess the situation in Auckland and will advise the Committee and the Government when to resume the repatriation flight.
In the meantime, all 150 repatriates who came in the first flight tested negative for COVID-19 and were released from the quarantine facilities on Wednesday, August 19.
