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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Royce Kurmelovs

First aid shipments leave for Tonga, amid fears aid workers could bring ‘tsunami of Covid’

HMAS Adelaide departs Fleet Base East at Garden Island, Sydney, Australia, for Brisbane in preparation to provide disaster relief and assistance to Tonga.
HMAS Adelaide departs Fleet Base East at Garden Island, Sydney, Australia, for Brisbane in preparation to provide disaster relief and assistance to Tonga following a massive volcanic eruption Photograph: Reuters

Australia and New Zealand have started to dispatch aid to Tonga, amid fears that relief workers could bring a “tsunami of Covid” cases to the Pacific Island nation that has so far recorded just one case of the virus.

New Zealand has dispatched two naval vessels with relief supplies onboard. Defence minister Peeni Henare said they were expected to arrive in four days, though could arrive as soon as Friday if the weather holds.

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