CORONAVIRUS WEEK 7 - COVID19 PACIFIC UPDATE
The CoconetTV ongoing Pacific Islands updates for our community in Aotearoa and the Pacific region.
To catch up on previous updates click here
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End of week round up -
NEW ZEALAND - Director of Public health Dr Caroline McElnay updated today and said that we have 1252 cases that are reported as having recovered from Covid-19, which is an increase of 11 from yesterday, and so 85 percent of all our confirmed and probable cases are considered to be recovered.
She said there are now a total of 1132 confirmed cases and 347 probable cases. There are still 16 significant clusters, but Dr McElnay said one cluster has not seen new cases in 28 days and will be closed. Today is the 13th day in a row that the increase in Covid-19 cases had been in single digits. The death toll stands at 19.
"We expect to close another cluster tomorrow and we have another further six clusters where the last case was reported between 14 and 28 days ago, so we expect to be able to close those off in the next few days."
Speaking at the same conference, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said there have been 281 breaches under level 3, an increase of 96 in the past 24 hours.
There had been an increase in reports about parties in residential houses, and Robertson warned those making plans for the weekend to cancel them now, as the virus had proven it will spread easily at events like these. He said police would have a "dim view" on this kind of activity.
"Don't be an idiot, stick to your bubble and everyone will be better off."
Today is the fourth day of the country being at alert level 3 which has allowed some people to return to work and school and restaurants and cafes to provide takeaways provided social distancing rules are maintained and payment is contactless.
It will now be easier to get a bank loan to buy a house, with the removal of loan-to-value ratio (LVR) restrictions by the Reserve Bank, effective tomorrow. Full story here
Family harm is on the rise as women find it harder to escape their abusers during Covid-19 restrictions. Full story here
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PACIFIC ISLANDS
** Total of 884 confirmed in the Pacific & 23 deaths - 14 in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (2 deaths), 18 in Fiji, 58 in French Polynesia, 145 in Guam (5 deaths), 618 in Hawai'i (16 deaths), 18 in New Caledonia, 8 in Papua New Guinea & 5 in Rapa Nui **
ACTIVE CASES AS AT 01 MAY 20 - CNMI 2, Fiji 6, French Polynesia 7, Guam 15, Hawaii 92, New Caledonia 1 and PNG 8 - Rapa Nui now Covid19 FREE
17 nations & territories in the Pacific are now Coronavirus FREE - below is a list of Pacific Islands States who have never had a case of Coronavirus.
COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS - To date, the CNMI has had 14 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, with 12 recoveries and two deaths.
- They can now test for Coronavirus on the island and have so far screened more than 500 walk-in patients and more than 1,500 patients via drive-thru.
- With the Northern Marianas starting mass testing, the islands' borders are expected to reopen with United Airlines planning to resume its Guam-Saipan flights on Saturday. Full story here
- Non contact sports (Tennis, athletics, golf etc ...) are poised to resume in the Cooks pending final sign-off from the Ministry of Health. Full story here
- The Cook Islands government has lifted its ban on large gatherings and have also eased alcohol restrictions.
- Restrictions of 20 people or less during social gatherings have been lifted but the 10pm - 5am curfew still remains.
- All sporting events remain temporarily suspended despite restrictions being lifted to allow gatherings of 20 people or less, including sporting events either organised by sporting bodies or community members in their respective communities.
FRENCH POLYNESIA - Of the 135 tests done yesterday, no new people were found to be positive for the Covid-19 virus. 2,544 people have been screened since the start of the epidemic. The balance remains at 58 people affected since the start of the epidemic. 51 people no longer show signs of the disease and are allowed to leave solitary confinement (+1 compared to yesterday). 7 people remain under surveillance, including a hospitalized patient.
- The French Polynesian government has outlined new conditions for people entering the territory as rotations of French public servants are being prepared. People who had tested positive for Covid-19 must be free of symptoms for at least two weeks before boarding a flight for Tahiti.
GUAM - Guam has a total of 145 cases with five deaths and 130 released from isolation.
- Additionally, the sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have been cleared to depart quarantine and return to the ship. According to the Joint Information Center on Guam the U.S Navy has already begun the process of returning the sailors off-base hotels to the aircraft carrier.
HAWAI'I - Statewide total is 618. Of the total number of cases, 526 people have been released from isolation. The death toll from the virus stands at 16.
- Eateries are looking to reopen dine-in areas with strict social distancing and hygiene practices
- Some businesses are gearing up for reopening with a cautious approach.
More on all stories via Hawaii News Now here
NEW CALEDONIA - New Caledonia will on Monday lift just about all restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 outbreak but keep the borders closed.
The president Thierry Santa said there had been no new cases recorded for 25 days and if the situation remained unchanged on Sunday, experts believe that it's 99.3 certain that the virus no longer circulates in New Caledonia. Full story here
PAPUA NEW GUINEA - So far there have been eight cases detected in the country of roughly 9 million people, and no deaths. The cases are spread across four regions and the sources of some cases are unknown, sparking fear that there could be widespread undetected community transmission.
- Measures against the spread of covid-19 have changed the pace of life in the main towns of Papua New Guinea's North Fly district.
Read the Guardians report on PNG here
SAMOA - New Zealand residents and citizens who wanted to return home from Samoa were able to do so today. Air New Zealand confirmed the Apia flight collected Auckland bound passengers and delivered essential supplies to Samoa. The Apia flight returned to Auckland at 5:45pm Samoa time this evening.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has announced that Samoa will extend its State of Emergency for another 4 weeks, with certain changes to the Orders of Emergency. Full details on the easing of the SOC orders here. Watch Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi's live video address below:
Check out what is NOT closed in Samoa here
VANUATU - Vanuatu's finance minister says the government is in talks with Australia about being part of a so-called travel bubble.
Vanuatu had so far managed to keep Covid-19 out of the country by sealing its borders, although its tourism-dependent economy had suffered a double blow from both the coronavirus restrictions imposed by a State of Emergency and last month's Cyclone Harold. Full story here
