07th April, 2020 A Drafting Committee consisting of five ministries will start formulating an Open Border Policy to guide the repatriate of Tongans who are stranded aboard due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was approved by the National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) Joint National Taskforce for COVID-19 this afternoon at Fa’onelua Convention Centre, after receiving a recommendation from the Shelter Cluster.
The policy will define the number of flights and passengers allowed to land in Tonga after the flights restriction will be lifted and it will also act as a guiding document for logistics.
The Shelter Cluster is currently assessing quarantine facilities and will also refurbish those facilities to meet the standard.
CEO for Health Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola said, after flights restriction will be lifted Tongans arriving the country will be quarantined for 14 days.
“Tongans are stuck in countries where COVID-19 has spread and they will be quarantined for 14 days to prevent the introduction or spread of COVID-19.”
Once the drafting process is complete, it will be reviewed by the CEO’s Forum and submitted back to the NEMC for consideration.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications.