(Reuters) -About two dozen cases of COVID-19 have been recorded among the many crew of an Australian warship anticipated to arrive in coronavirus-free Tonga on Wednesday to ship humanitarian aid, Australian authorities mentioned on Tuesday.
Tonga, hit by an enormous volcanic eruption and a tsunami on Jan. 15, has requested for aid https://www.reuters.com/world/world-rushes-aid-tsunami-hit-tonga-drinking-water-food-runs-short-2022-01-20 to be delivered with out human contact amid issues a COVID outbreak can be devastating for the tiny Pacific island nation.
Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton mentioned 23 personnel aboard the HMAS Adelaide have examined constructive for COVID. The ship, with a crew of about 600, left Brisbane on Friday carrying massive portions of humanitarian aid and medical provides, helicopters and water purification tools, in addition to an Australian Army engineer contingent.
The ship is due to arrive in Tonga early on Wednesday, the division of defence mentioned.
“We will work with the Tongan authorities to maintain that vessel at sea to ensure there isn’t any menace and clearly the Tongan authorities is discussing that in the mean time,” Dutton mentioned on broadcaster Sky News.
“Obviously they want the aid desperately however they do not need the chance of COVID.”
In a later assertion, the defence division mentioned HMAS Adelaide would proceed her mission, and make sure the aid was delivered in a COVID-safe method.
“The constructive COVID cases, and shut contacts, are being remoted,” a defence assertion mentioned, including the ship had medical amenities together with a 40-bed hospital with crucial care ward, and COVID testing capabilities.
All crew had been vaccinated and the 23 constructive COVID cases have been exhibiting no or delicate signs, it mentioned.
Aid flights from Australia and New Zealand arrived in Tonga final week with important provides, however the switch of products was executed in a contactless manner. One Australian aid flight was pressured to return to base when a COVID-19 case was detected mid-flight.
A New Zealand aid vessel landed final week and extra aid is en route by air and sea from New Zealand, Japan and Britain.
The United Nations, Red Cross and different aid businesses on the bottom in Tonga have warned {that a} COVID-19 outbreak within the island can be catastrophic presently.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano eruption https://graphics.reuters.com/TONGA-VOLCANO/lgpdwjyqbvo triggered a tsunami that destroyed villages and resorts and knocked out communications for the nation of about 105,000 individuals. Three individuals have been reported killed, authorities mentioned.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Praveen Menon in Wellington; Editing by Michael Perry and Kenneth Maxwell)
