TESS NEWTON CAIN AND DAN MCGARRY |   

Infection numbers in the region remain low, with minimal increase. New cases have been recorded in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), bringing the total across the region to 274.

A number of countries have now been provided with GeneXpert testing cartridges by the World Health Oganization (WHO). They will allow for in-country testing and rapid processing of results. However, due to the global demand, there are only small numbers available in most places. For example, Tonga (where there are no confirmed cases) has requested 6,000 cartridges and has received 120.

The idea of including Pacific island countries in a proposed trans-Tasman bubble being mooted by Australia and New Zealand has received a lot of attention among commentators, despite warnings from Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, that any relaxation of international border closures is still some way off.

Anne Sherry is to chair an expert panel convened by the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum to examine what a trans-Tasman bubble might look like. There is no sign of Pacific countries being invited to be part of these discussions at this stage, despite a number of senior leaders from the region indicating that they want their countries to be part in the conversations.

Please click here to read the full “Coronavirus in the Pacific: weekly briefing” article published at Guardian, written by Tess Newton Cain and Dan McGarry.