Twin disaster-hit Tonga is under lockdown after two COVID-19 cases were detected in the capital city of Nuku’alofa. The cases were identified among port workers, who were helping distribute international aid following the disasters. Tonga was one of the few places in the world that had not reported any COVID-19 infections. The remote island nation closed its border to flights and cruise ships in March 2020, but the recent disaster made Tonga depend on humanitarian aid from other countries. It’s still unknown which ship carried the virus, and an investigation by the Tonga authorities are underway.
85% of the Tonga population is vaccinated.