TONGAN IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by sections 36 and 37 of the Emergency Management Act 2007 and in recognition of –
A the declaration made by the World Health Organization of Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a global pandemic which is accelerating;
B the Public Health Emergency Order dated 13 March 2020 and the Declaration of an Emergency Notifiable Condition dated 13 March 2020 and the effort to prevent or minimize the spread of the COVID-19 within the Kingdom of Tonga; and
C the Renewal of a State of Emergency dated 15 May 2020,
And upon the recommendation of the Minister responsible for Emergency Management, I HEREBY DECLARE this National COVID-19 Restrictions Notice (“Notice”) upon the following terms and conditions –
(1) This Notice shall be effective from 8:00pm, Friday 15 May 2020 to 8:00pm, Friday 29 May 2020 and shall apply to the areas specified in the Renewal of the Declaration of a State of Emergency dated 15 May 2020, unless further renewed.
(2) For the purposes of this Notice, unless the context requires otherwise –
“authorised officers” means any person or class of persons authorised in accordance with section 36 of the Emergency Management Act 2007 and any person or class of persons designated under sections 177 and 178 of the Public Health Act 2008;
“contact sports” means sport in which the participants consistently and heavily come into bodily contact with one another, for example boxing, judo, taekwondo, rugby union, rugby league (excluding touch rugby);
“kava clubs” means –
(a) a group of 2 or more people consuming kava at a public location; or
(b) a group of not more than 4 people consuming kava at a private location or residential household;
(c) paragraph (a) and (b) does not apply to persons living in the same residential household;
“protective clothing” means any clothing which includes a hankerchief, gloves, garments or equipments designed to minimise the risk of an infection;
“mass gatherings” means any gathering not exceeding a total of 40 people indoors and 80 people outdoors in any gatherings except for religious services and education institutions;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for emergency management;
“social distancing” means keeping 1.5 meters distance from any other person at all times;
(3) Night-time curfews shall apply from 10:00pm to 5:00am.
(4) The night-time curfew shall be enforced by the Tonga Police, His Majesty’s Armed Forces and relevant authorised officers.
(5) Liquor licensed night clubs, clubs and bars shall open on Wednesdays to Saturdays.
(6) Kava clubs shall open on Wednesdays to Saturdays.
(7) All kava clubs shall comply with the Ministry of Health requirements for sanitation and hygiene facilities.
(8) Preparatory kava sessions prior to church services shall be permitted on Sundays only.
(9) All gyms, sporting events and activities, celebration of birthdays, marriages and other recreational or related gatherings shall be permitted.
(10) All activities specified under paragraphs (5), (6), (8) and (9) shall not exceed the maximum number defined as a “mass gatherings”.
(11) All events such as bingo and contact sports shall be prohibited.
(12) A funeral gatherings shall be restricted to a total of 40 people indoors and 100 people outdoors with an authorised officer to be present throughout.
(13) Tonga Police and His Majesty’s Armed Forces and any authorised officers for the purposes of securing public safety and maintenance of public health shall have the power to enforce this Notice.
(14) All persons shall observe and promote social distancing at all times and shall use protective clothing where possible.
(15) All persons shall observe personal hand hygiene and shall follow all Public Health Advisories issued by the Ministry of Health in relation to COVID-19.
(16) All provisions of this Notice shall apply to all persons.
