Enlarge / This photograph exhibits the Australian Navy’s HMAS Adelaide docked at Vuna Wharf within the Tongan capital of Nukualofa on January 26, 2022. The Adelaide delivered assist following the January 15 eruption of the close by Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano. (credit score: Getty | Mary Lyn Fonua)

The archipelago nation of Tonga went into lockdown Wednesday after detecting 5 instances of COVID-19 and its first group transmission. This occurs amid restoration efforts from a large underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami in mid-January that coated islands in ash and reduce off communication.

The nation of 106,000 residents together with 171 islands—45 of that are inhabited—has virtually fully thwarted the pandemic virus thus far. The 5 new instances carry Tonga’s complete COVID-19 case rely to 6, together with one case detected in a lodge quarantine in October.

However an outpouring of worldwide assist following the eruption raised widespread concern that Tonga’s COVID-free streak can be damaged. The Australian navy ship HMAS Adelaide that docked final week was loaded with assist provides and 23 recognized COVID-19 instances.