TESS NEWTON CAIN AND DAN MCGARRY |   

Here is the latest news about the Covid-19 outbreak across the Pacific, from Dan McGarry and Tess Newton Cain on Wednesday 3 June.

The total number of cases of Covid-19 infection across the region stands at 294, an increase of two since last week, both in Guam.

As the global and regional situation stabilises and the direct threat of Covid-19 recedes, Pacific countries are beginning to ramp up repatriation efforts. Thousands of agricultural and cruise ship workers, diplomats and officials, as well as people simply caught at the wrong place at the wrong time, are finally being afforded the chance to return.

Some people in virus-free countries, such as Palau, remain ultra-cautious about any potential for infection by these new arrivals.

The 2020 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting – the most significant regional diplomatic meeting – has been postponed due to the uncertainty and economic impacts facing the country due to Covid-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold, which recently devastated parts of the country. Vanuatu will offer to host the 2021 meeting instead.

Surveys of businesses conducted by the International Finance Corporation in Fiji and Solomon Islands have revealed the serious economic impact of Covid-19. Nearly 80% of surveyed businesses in Solomon Islands experienced a reduction in turnover or cash flow and 56% said they may need to downsize in the next year due to impacts of Covid-19. Employers also feared that Covid-19 led to increases of sexual and domestic violence, with two-thirds of companies in Fiji who were surveyed by IFC saying they believed the pandemic has increased employees’ experiences of domestic and sexual violence.

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.