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BREAKING
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

Pacific islands meet Covid for the first time

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Feb 2022 16:21
2 Min Read

After two years of closing borders, some remote Pacific island nations are opening up to the world again.

  • x
  • Pacific islands meet COVID
    Pacific islands meet COVID.

Many Pacific island nations, surrounded by the vastness of the world's largest ocean, were among the last places on the planet to be spared by Covid-19.

Recognizing the threat of even a single case of Covid, the Marshall Islands became one of the first countries in the world to restrict its borders to foreigners in January 2020.

“Up until now, they’ve been able to keep Covid at bay largely as a result of closing their borders and being very, very cautious about allowing people to come into the country—including their own people,” says Tess Newton Cain, the project leader of the Pacific Hub at the Griffith Asia Institute.

While governments pleaded for patience, international students were trapped abroad, families were split up, and sailors were delayed at sea.

Read more: 2021 Roundup: Two years after COVID-19, we crunch numbers

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Kiribati Island

Two years into the pandemic, some countries have loosened their defenses.

Kiribati reopened this year, and 54 citizens were allowed to return home on a chartered plane in late January. Some Kiribati residents who returned home brought the virus with them. 

Over 1,700 cases of Omicron have been reported in Kiribati. Since January 22, the country has been on lockdown, with mandatory masks, social separation, and travel vaccination cards. The government has proclaimed a state of emergency.

Palau Island

After two years of being Covid-free, Palau reported its first instances in early January, which were brought in by tourists from other countries.

The total number of cases in the country presently stands at 460. Schools have been closed, and a mask ban has been imposed.

Solomon Islands 

Cases are on the rise in the Solomon Islands. On January 19, community transmission of the virus was proven for the first time.

According to Manasseh Sogavare, the prime minister, one in every two citizens of Honiara, the capital, was infected with Covid-19 as of February 6, bringing the total number of cases to about 50,000.

Only 56 beds are available at Honiara's Covid-19 isolation unit, which is the only place designated for positive patients.

  • Pandemics Through History
    Pandemics Through History
  • COVID-19
  • Pacific islands
  • Coronavirus
  • Pacific Ocean

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