SUVA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Tonga once again extended the lockdown in some parts of the island country on Sunday as it reported two new COVID-19 cases.
According to Tonga's news website Matangi Tonga Online on Sunday night, Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni announced the extension of the lockdown in the main island of Tongatapu and Vava'u, an island group consisting of one large island ('Utu Vava'u) and 40 smaller ones, after confirming two new COVID-19 cases, co-workers of the case at the wharf in the capital city of Nuku'alofa.
Currently, Tonga has seven COVID-19 cases, and they are all in good health and have not shown symptoms.
Sovaleni said that the lockdown has been extended for the incubation period of 14 days when symptoms start to appear if individuals have contracted the virus.
However, shops and other essential services will be permitted to open on Tuesdays and Fridays for people to restock during the lockdown from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
People are urged to follow COVID-19 protocols when going outdoors, including wearing masks, keeping social distancing of two meters from other people and washing hands with soap or cleansing with hand sanitizer.
The new 14-day lockdown starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday will allow health officials to follow those who had close contact with these cases detected earlier.
On Friday, Sovaleni announced a 48-hour lockdown in the island country, which expired at 6 p.m. on Sunday. The lockdown in the islands of Eua, Ha'apai and Niuas was lifted on Sunday after hundreds of people tested negative over the weekend.
Tonga, a South Pacific island nation with a population of more than 100,000, has vaccinated 97 percent with their first doses, and 88 percent have received their second doses. ■