The Kiribati island nation was one of the world's last covid-free places. Now it's under lockdown.

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

The Pacific island nation of Kiribati, which had almost entirely kept the coronavirus out, went into lockdown on Saturday for the first time in the pandemic. The government imposed a 24-hour curfew after passengers on the first international flight in months tested positive for the virus.

Before this month, the island, one of the world’s most remote, had recorded just two infections — in two people returning on a ship in May last year, who quarantined on the vessel.

The new restrictions include a ban on social gatherings and a requirement for residents to stay at home except in the case of emergencies. Most government offices and other institutions will close, except for hospitals, the police and essential services.

Thirty-six people on a flight from Fiji tested positive on landing about a week ago on the first plane to arrive since the nation reopened its borders this month. All 54 passengers were quarantined at a facility, but at least four cases were since reported in the community, including a security guard at the quarantine center.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/22/kiribati-first-lockdown-covid-cases-flight/

[OnlinePoker]

1. Before the volcano/tsunami, Tonga had only one case of Covid

They are worried that, with the aid shipments coming in, infections will start up.

[Jon King]

2. Its not a good thing, eventually every population needs immunity.

Every population needs to be vaccinated and will forever as each new variant and new versions of a vaccine are available. And the combo of vaccination and recovered cases is also important for lasting immunity of a population. Makes no sense to try to 'keep Covid out'. If you want to slow the spread in the beginning while you vaccinate, great. But it is a fools effort to attempt it longer term.

[Hortensis]

3. As long as they control it, and it sounds as if they have and are. nt