COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau

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COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau
Tokelau location map.svg
Disease COVID-19
Virus strain SARS-CoV-2
Location Tokelau
Arrival date21 December 2022
Confirmed cases50+ [1] [2]
Active cases-
Recovered0
Deaths
0
Government website
https://www.covid19level.com/main-list/new-zealand/tokelau

The COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Tokelau reported its first confirmed case on 21 December 2022. COVID-19 reached all three of Tokelau's main atolls in July 2023, when the government confirmed the community spread of the virus on Fakaofo, the last atoll without infections. [1]

Contents

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. [3] [4]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, [5] [6] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. [7] [5]

Tokelau consists of three atolls Atafu, Fakaofo and Nukunonu, with a total population of less than 2,000. New Zealand assumed control of the Tokelau Islands from the United Kingdom in 1926, and incorporated them into New Zealand's territorial boundaries in 1948. Two referendums were held in 2006 and 2007 to upgrade the territory's status to a free associated state similar to the Cook Islands and Niue, which are associated states connected to New Zealand. However, both referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority need to advance to free association and Tokelau remains a dependent territory. Tokelau is governed by a legislative body known as the General Fono with each of the three atolls having a taupulega (village councils). The New Zealand Government provides "broad but distant oversight" over the dependency. [8]

Timeline

On 21 December 2022, Tokelau reported its first five cases of COVID-19. [9]

On 22 May 2023, Tokelau reported its first community case on Nukunonu, the dependency's largest atoll. In response, local authorities imposed a lockdown. [10]

By 26 May, Tokelau had reported a total of four community cases. [11]

By 29 May, Tokelau had reported a total of two border cases and six community cases. Nukunonu ended its lockdown period. [12]

Responses

On 21 March 2023, Stuff reported that Tokelau was still closing its borders three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Under the dependency's border policies, only New Zealand citizens (Tokelauans are considered New Zealanders) and a limited number of essential workers, who have to apply for exemption, are allowed to enter Tokelau. All travellers are required to undergo a seven-day quarantine. Tokelau Covid-19 response chairman Aukusitino Vitale justified Tokelau's border restrictions, citing the limited capabity of the dependency's health infrastructure, health work force, and small population. [13]

COVID-19 vaccination efforts

On 19 July 2021, the Royal New Zealand Navy warship HMNZS Wellington delivered 120 vials of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to Tokelau's Nukunonu atoll, which is sufficient to vaccinate 720 people. Tokelau's population was 1,499 according to the 2016 Census. [14] By 2 August 2022, Tokelau had reported to the WHO that 998 vaccine doses had been administered. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tokelau</span> Dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean

Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand in the southern Pacific Ocean. It consists of three tropical coral atolls: Atafu, Nukunonu, and Fakaofo. They have a combined land area of 10 km2 (4 sq mi). The capital rotates yearly among the three atolls. In addition to these three, Swains Island, which forms part of the same archipelago, is the subject of an ongoing territorial dispute; it is currently administered by the United States as part of American Samoa. Tokelau lies north of the Samoan Islands, east of Tuvalu, south of the Phoenix Islands, southwest of the more distant Line Islands, and northwest of the Cook Islands.

Tokelau may refer to:

Tokelauan is a Polynesian language spoken in Tokelau and on Swains Island in American Samoa. It is closely related to Tuvaluan and is related to Samoan and other Polynesian languages. Tokelauan has a co-official status with English in Tokelau. There are approximately 4,260 speakers of Tokelauan, of whom 2,100 live in New Zealand, 1,400 in Tokelau, and 17 in Swains Island. "Tokelau" means "north-northeast".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Tokelau</span> Political system of Tokelau

The politics of Tokelau takes place within a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The head of state of Tokelau is King Charles III in right of his Realm of New Zealand, who is represented by an Administrator. The monarch is hereditary, the Administrator is appointed by the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head of Government of Tokelau</span>

The office of head of government of Tokelau, often simply called the Ulu, rotates yearly between the faipule (leaders) of Tokelau's three atolls: Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunonu. The current Ulu is Kelihiano Kalolo, the Faipule of Atafu atoll, who has held the position since 6 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuresa Nasau</span> Tokelauan politician

Kuresa Nasau is a Tokelauan politician who has served as head of government five times and as faipule of Atafu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Tokelauan self-determination referendum</span>

A referendum on self-determination was held in Tokelau on 20 October and on 22–24 October 2007, with the result being that self-governance was rejected. Had it been successful, the referendum would have changed Tokelau's status from an unincorporated New Zealand territory to a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, akin to the Cook Islands and Niue. However, the referendum required a two-thirds positive vote to pass, and the "yes" side fell short of the required total by 16 votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Tokelau</span> Overview of and topical guide to Tokelau

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tokelau:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Tokelau</span>

Tokelau has two official languages: Tokelauan and English. Over 90% of the population speaks Tokelauan, and just under 60% speak English. Also, 45.8% of the population speak Samoan, and small percentages of the population speak Tuvaluan and Kiribati.

Aliki Kelihiano Kalolo is a Tokelauan politician who currently serves as Head of the Government of Tokelau, or Ulu since 13 March 2013. He previously served in the same position from February 2012 to March 2013, again from 12 March 2019 to 9 March 2020, and again from 8 March 2021 to 19 May 2022. He is a member of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education, Economic Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, prior to and then simultaneously to his leadership of the government. The office of Ulu rotates on an annual basis between the faipule of each of the country's three atolls; Kalolo, as faipule of Atafu, took office as Ulu for the first time in 2012.

Internet in Tokelau is provided by Teletok, the government-owned communications corporation, and Taloha Inc., a private company formed by the Dutch Joost Zuurbier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Tokelau</span>

The vast majority of people in Tokelau are Christians and Christianity plays a significant role in the Tokelauan way of life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siopili Perez</span> Tokelauan politician

Siopili Perez is a Tokelauan politician. He served as the Head of Government of Tokelau from 23 February 2015 to 8 March 2016, from 6 March 2017 to 5 March 2018 and from 19 May 2022 until 6 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic by country and territory</span>

This is a general overview and status of places affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The first human cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, the capital of the province of Hubei in China in December 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in New Zealand

The COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first case of the disease in New Zealand was reported on 28 February 2020. The country recorded over 2,274,370 cases. Over 3,000 people died as a result of the pandemic, with cases recorded in all twenty district health board (DHB) areas. The pandemic first peaked in early April 2020, with 89 new cases recorded per day and 929 active cases. Cases peaked again in October 2021 with 134 new cases reported on 22 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania</span> Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania

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The COVID-19 pandemic in the Marshall Islands is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached the Marshall Islands on 28 October 2020, but remained confined to quarantined arrivals until August 2022. The first known community transmission cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Majuro on August 8, 2022, ending the country's COVID-free status. The first confirmed death from COVID-19 in the Marshall Islands occurred on August 11, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Niue</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Tokelauan general election</span>

General elections were held in Tokelau on 26 January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023</span> Chronology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2

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References

  1. 1 2 "Entire village tested as covid reaches third Tokelauan atoll". Radio New Zealand . 2023-07-20. Archived from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ↑ "Covid-19 Level - Tokelau".
  3. ↑ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN   1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Frankel, Jon (20 June 2012). "'Pacific Islands and New Zealand - Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Nauru'". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Tokelau becomes final Pacific nation to record Covid-19 cases". Radio New Zealand . 21 December 2022. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Lydia (22 May 2023). "Lockdown on Tokelau as first community case of Covid is confirmed". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "'Have courage': Tokelau records its first four community Covid-19 cases". Radio New Zealand . 26 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Lydia (29 May 2023). "Tokelau Covid: Two new cases announced as lockdown ends". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Tokalau, Torika (21 March 2023). "Tokelau, the tiny Pacific nation still closed after 3 years in Covid quarantine". Stuff . Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Pasilio, Elena (20 July 2021). "Pfizer vaccine roll-out begins in Covid-free Tokelau". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "Tokelau: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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