SUVA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Tonga now has a total of 940 active COVID-19 cases, the island nation's health authorities confirmed on Friday.
According to Tonga's news website Matangi Tonga Online, Tonga's Minister for Health Saia Piukala said on Friday that the island nation now has 940 active COVID-19 cases with 442 recoveries.
Tonga reported 39 positive cases following tests carried out on repatriated passengers from New Zealand and Australia this week, he said, adding that the specimens have been sent to New Zealand for confirmation of the variant.
The minister also confirmed the death of a COVID-19 positive case with pre-existing medical conditions.
Tonga now has two COVID-19 hotspots. One is in Sia'atoutai and the other in the Hu'atolitoli Prison, both in Tonga's main island of Tongatapu.
Meanwhile, most of Tonga's COVID-19 restrictions will continue for another week.
In Tongatapu and Vava'u, an island group consisting of one large island, 'Utu Vava'u, and 40 smaller ones, the current curfew remains from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT to 1600 GMT).
Tonga has a population of more than 100,000. Currently, about 89 percent of Tonga's target population have received their second dose, 97 percent have received their first dose, and 41 percent have received booster shots. ■