‘More severe’: Niue faces new Covid surge

Since Covid-19 mandates were lifted, Niue and the rest of the world have returned to a more normal way of life.

But last month, the tiny Pacific island nation experienced a resurgence of Covid-19, with 150 reported cases, putting Niue at risk again.

Niue, also known as the Rock of Polynesia, is the largest coral atoll in the world and has a population of fewer than 1700 people. Their way of life is centred around agriculture, fishing, and strong community ties.

With 150 Covid-19 cases reported over the past month, nine per cent of the population is currently infected.

According to the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue (BCN), the Niue health department has hospitalised four Covid patients this month.

Currently, there are a total of 37 active cases on the island.

While the number of active cases is slowly declining and more individuals are recovering, Mokoia continues to urge members of the public to stay safe and get tested.

“With this outbreak alone, we try to move away from just treating it as the normal flu because it may be like normal flu to some people who can tolerate the symptoms better than others,” Mokoia says.

“But for the majority, who have already tested positive for Covid, they reckon that this time around, the symptoms are a little bit more severe than the previous outbreak that we had.

“The concept and mindset that people had initially was that it’s okay, Covid is now considered the norm, and it’s just treated as flu. But with this outbreak, we realised after a couple of cases that it’s a little bit different.

“It’s the reason why we are adamant that we continue to do what is expected from us to protect the most vulnerable population.”

Mokoia says the rise in cases is likely due to funerals, public gatherings, and new arrivals from flights. It is also attributed to the lifting of mandatory isolation, which allows infected individuals to continue with their daily activities.

“It’s just that when Niue lifted the mandate for mandatory isolation, people are now allowed to do whatever they want,” she says. “So it’s pretty much if you have Covid, you can still go around and do your routine daily tasks.”

Niue Foou Hospital in Fagalilika. Photo/RNZ

This surge is the first since November 2022. That year, vaccination rates were initially high at 98 per cent for those aged 12 years and older, but these rates declined as booster shots were introduced.

“We have reached out to our colleagues from Polynesian Health Corridor, expressing our interest in procuring more Covid vaccines for the country. We just received them on Friday. So we will be letting the public know that it’s available,” Mokoia says.

“But we’re no longer going to be doing the mass rollout vaccination campaign like we did in the past.

“It will now be made available and promoted for whoever wants to get vaccinated to come forward and get their vaccinations at the hospital.”

Niue vaccination rates were high at 98 per cent in 2022 compared to the last month. Photo/File

While there are currently about 150 reported cases in this outbreak, past outbreaks have reached higher numbers.

“Back in 2022, in November alone, we went up as far as 380 cases. That was the most we had,” Mokoia says.

While the community has adapted to the current situation based on experience from past outbreaks.

Mokoia continues to remind the public to remain vigilant.

“People have learned a lot from the past, from the previous outbreak in 2022. They know the principles, and they’re aware of what they’re expected to do to protect their families.

Mokoia urges the public to get tested and remain vigilant. Photo/RNZ.

“We’re grateful that the majority of them, although they’re not reporting, they’re coming forward and getting their test kits to test their families. They’re also taking their supply of masks home for them to use.

“Our main message is for people to continue to remain vigilant and for anyone who experiences flu-like symptoms to just test and rule out Covid, even if it’s just the common flu.

“As long as they test and know it’s not Covid, it minimises the spread of infection as best as we can.”