The Kiribati Government has extended its state of disaster by another month as the remote Pacific Island nation's Covid-19 infections climbs to almost 400.
The state has also extended the curfew in Betio, South Tarawa, and Buota for another seven days in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Kiribati Health and Medical Services Ministry confirmed on Sunday that there are now 324 community and 42 imported cases, bringing the total to 364.
Parliament House in Kiribati Photo: RNZ Pacific / Koro Vaka'uta
The Ministry said the new community cases showed only mild symptoms, except for one who has been admitted at the Bikenibeu Isolation Centre.
According to the Health Ministry, "the patient had experienced body ache, vomiting, headaches and sore throat but after receiving iv fluids, the patient's overall condition has improved but still requires monitoring.
Authorities are advising people who have tested positive to quarantine at home.
Overseas assistance for Kiribati
The government of Kiribati said its development partners have responded swiftly to provide urgent support to the Health Ministry in a number of priority areas including Covid-19 vaccines, medical equipment, PPEs, medical supplies, and personnel.
This is after senior Kiribati officials met with diplomatic and development partners for a virtual briefing - held last Thursday - to update them on the fast-evolving Covid-19 situation in the country.
The meeting was joined by over 40 representatives of resident and non-resident diplomatic and intergovernmental agencies - including New Zealand - according to a statement posted via the Office of the President's Facebook page.
The Kiribati Foreign Affairs and Immigration Ministry is expected to continue to "convene further dialogues" to update its partners "to map out priority needs and areas of support and develop mechanisms to rapidly and efficiently mobilize financial and in-kind resources."
In a statement to RNZ Pacific, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it "notes with concern the confirmed cases of community transmission of Covid-19 in Kiribati."
It states that New Zealand is "monitoring the situation closely and are in the process of delivering testing swabs and two centrifuges to Kiribati to bolster testing capacity as an initial response."
"We are working closely with key partners to procure further items requested by the Government of Kiribati," MFAT adds.
