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]
| COVID-19 pandemic in Tokelau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Tokelau |
| Arrival date | 21 December 2022 |
| Confirmed cases | 50+[1][2] |
| Active cases | - |
| Recovered | 0 |
Deaths | 0 |
| Government website | |
| https://www.covid19level.com/main-list/new-zealand/tokelau | |
Background
editOn 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
editOn 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
editOn 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
editOn 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
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "Covid-19 Level - Tokelau".
- ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.