Enlarge / Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2022 shows a beach resort hit by the tsunami on the outskirts of Nuku’alofa, capital of Tonga. (credit: Getty | Xinhua News Agency )
The ultra-transmissible omicron coronavirus is now spreading in Tonga, causing the archipelago nation’s first COVID-19 outbreak as it tries to recover from an underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami on January 15. The disaster killed three, wiped out several small settlements, blanketed the main island in a thick layer of ash, and severed the only fiber-optic cable to Tonga, severely hampering communications.
Prior to the eruption, the particular island nation—home to around 106, 000 people—had logged only one confirmed case of COVID-19, which was caught in a quarantine. But amid international aid and relief efforts, two wharf workers tested positive earlier this month , as did three of their family members.
Tonga’s case total is now up to 66 , with 31 newly reported cases Thursday.
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