As COVID-19 hits Pacific islands for 1st time, nearby nations scramble to provide aid

Concern about the detection of the virus in tsunami-hit Tonga has been heightened by thousands of infections sweeping neighboring Pacific islands.

Pacific island nations that are some of the last places in the world to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic are recording a growing number of COVID-19 cases, prompting a rush to provide vaccines, medical teams and food aid.

Concern about the detection of the coronavirus in tsunami-hit Tonga, where one new case was recorded on Friday, has been heightened by thousands of infections sweeping neighboring Pacific islands.

In the Solomon Islands, where riots — not connected to the pandemic — saw buildings in the capital Honiara burn in November, an outbreak of the Delta strain with 2,357 cases has overwhelmed the health system, aid agencies say.

Australia has sent four defense flights to the Solomon Islands over the past two weeks with a medical team, vaccines, and emergency food for hospital patients and tens of thousands of households.

Katie Greenwood, head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross Pacific, said cases had taken off rapidly in the Solomon Islands, where just 11% of the population was fully vaccinated.

“People are scared and its affecting everyone,” she said.

“Fragile health systems get overwhelmed very quickly.”

The Solomon Islands government has reported 21 deaths from COVID, and imposed restrictions on movements.