08th September, 2021 Repatriation of Tongan nationals (and residents) from Fiji is currently suspended due to the high risk of COVID-19 delta variant entering into Tonga. The Government of Tonga cannot allow the delta variant to enter Tonga nor take on this high-risk exercise at this point in time. The stranded Tongan nationals in Fiji, both in transit and students, are being supported by the Tongan Government with living allowances. At this stage, the suitable strategy for those intending to return home is to get vaccinated. The Government of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Committee (NEMC) continues to assess and review the situation in Fiji whilst aiming for the vaccination coverage in Tonga to attain around 70% by the end of the year. The Air Vanuatu flight which arrived in Tonga on 26th August 2021 brought in 14 Chinese nationals who were based in Vanuatu since June 2021. They were approved by the Government of Tonga to implement a development project and they fulfilled the strict requirements dictated by health criteria before entry into the Kingdom of Tonga; a country that is still COVID-19 free.....