Puloka said if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to happen in Tonga, a cluster of islands about 500 miles southeast of Fiji, its limited resources and natural isolation would foster 'a very huge disaster that I don't think we can really handle.'

Small Pacific island nations and territories have been spared the worst of the pandemic because of their ability to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.

'I think it was just kind of disappointing because they were looking forward to opening up the border and accepting people from outside, but this is what has happened,' Puloka said. The confirmed case has spurred a rush to get vaccinated, according to local media. Puloka said while the chance of the virus getting out into the wider community was very slim, the community seemed keen to keep it from spreading. People will only be able to leave their homes for essential business, such as getting groceries, medicine or banking.

Under the lockdown, which began at midnight Tuesday, schools, bars and restaurants will be closed for a week and a curfew imposed on the island of Tongatapu, where a majority of Tonga's population lives. 'I think in general, people do understand what is happening and it's been expected that at some point, as long as this virus is anywhere, this virus everywhere,' he said. The retired general practitioner and public health specialist said it was just a matter of time before the virus reached them. Viliami Puloka told NPR from his home in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga. 'So far, we're very happy that nothing else has happened besides that one case,' Dr. All 214 others aboard the flight have tested negative and the infected traveler, a young missionary, is currently quarantined in a facility. The COVID-positive traveler, who is fully vaccinated and was showing no symptoms, arrived in Tonga last Wednesday on a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand. The main island of Tonga has gone into a week-long lockdown after the South Pacific nation reported its very first COVID-19 case of the pandemic late last week.

A resort at Natadola Bay in Fiji is among many to have felt the effect of COVID on tourism.

Ashley mass effect 3