Here's what is happening in news from around the Pacific today, Wednesday 22 December.
Photo: AFP
Three more people die of Covid-19 in French Polynesia
The death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic in French Polynesia has risen to 106 after another three people died over the weekend..
A total of 16,345 people have been infected since testing began in March.
All but 62 cases were detected after the borders were reopened in July and mandatory quarantine requirements were abolished.
There are 55 Covid-19 patients in hospital, with 23 of them in intensive care.
Tonga extends Covid-19 SOE
Tonga has extended its coronavirus state of emergency for another month.
But the overnight curfew will be shortened for Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
On those two days the curfew will apply from midnight to 3am, instead of 5.
Other restrictions, including a limit of 50 people at indoors gatherings and 100 outside - remain.
Medicaid could be restored to Micronesians in the US
The United States could restore access to healthcare for citizens of the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia who live in the US.
Such a change would help thousands of Pacific islanders who have been hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the US.
Citizens of the three countries are allowed to live in the US under the compacts of free association, but they haven't been allowed Medicaid since 1996.
That lack of access is attributed to high mortality rates and health inequalities for Pacific islanders across the US, particularly in places like Hawaii, Arkansas and California.
The plan is included in a funding package that still needs to be approved by both Congress and the Senate in Washington.
