COVID-19 pandemic in Tuvalu

The COVID-19 pandemic in Tuvalu is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Tuvalu on 20 May 2022.[3][4] As of 31 August 2022, a total of 25,591 vaccine doses have been administered.[5]

COVID-19 pandemic in Tuvalu
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationTuvalu
Arrival date20 May 2022
Confirmed cases2,943[1]
Recovered2,805[2]
Deaths
1[1]

Background

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On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[6][7]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[8][9] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[10][8]

Timeline

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2020

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Circa 26 March 2020, the acting governor general declared a state of emergency.[11]

2021

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As of 24 August 2021 in reporting to the WHO, there had been zero confirmed COVID-19 cases; and as of 15 August, 4,772 vaccines doses had been administered.[12] On 2 November, a traveller from Tuvalu tested positive when arriving to New Zealand, suggesting possible spread of the virus in the country, but no cases had been officially reported by the local authorities of the country.[13]

2022

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Acting Prime Minister Minute Alapati Taupo on 20 May 2022 announced that three cases were detected in quarantine, while other three cases are suspicious.[3][4]

On 31 October, 140 positives cases were reported by the WHO.[14]

On 3rd November 2022, the government of Tuvalu announced the first community outbreak.[15]

2023

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In 2023, the IMF Article IV consultation with Tuvalu concluded that a successful vaccination strategy allowed Tuvalu to lift coronavirus disease (COVID-19) containment measures[16] at the end of 2022.[17]

Statistics

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Cases by islands and atolls

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Island/Atoll Cases Deaths References
Funafuti 2,300 0
Nanumea 25 0
Niulakita 2 0
Niutao 23 0
Nui 121 0
Nukufetau 73 0
Nukulaelae 25
Vaitupu 210 0
Total 2,779 0 [18]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mathieu, Edouard; Ritchie, Hannah; Rodés-Guirao, Lucas; Appel, Cameron; Giattino, Charlie; Hasell, Joe; Macdonald, Bobbie; Dattani, Saloni; Beltekian, Diana; Ortiz-Ospina, Esteban; Roser, Max (2020–2024). "Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)". Our World in Data. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  2. ^ "Tuvalu COVID - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer". Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  3. ^ a b Tuvalu Department of Trade [@TuvaluTrade] (20 May 2022). "Breaking News Tuvalu🇹🇻: #COVID-19 confirmed cases in quarantine. Overnight, the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Minute Taupo announced three COVID-19 positive cases were detected and a further three are suspected. All six are in #quarantine. Stay Safe Tuvalu" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b "COVID-19 – the Pacific response: May 2022". Asia & the Pacific Policy Society. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Tuvalu: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  6. ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. ^ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  10. ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Covid-19: Pacific summary". RNZ. 26 March 2020. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Tuvalu: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Traveller from Tuvalu tests positive for Covid-19 in NZ". Radio New Zealand. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Tuvalu: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data". covid19.who.int. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  15. ^ "Official Statement COVID-19 Update (Tuvalu) [as of Sunday, 06/11/22]". Facebook. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  16. ^ "Standard Operating Procedure for International Travel to Tuvalu" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Tuvalu: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tuvalu". International Monetary Fund Country Report No. 2023/267. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  18. ^ "COVID-19 Update #12 (Tuvalu)". Facebook. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2022-12-03.