COVID-19 Coverage in the Pacific - through a Pacific lens

Coronavirus has brought the whole world to a standstill as countries rush to respond to a global pandemic. Even countries with well-developed healthcare systems and funding are still balancing how to provide and care for an increasing number of ill patients. Three years into the pandemic, the Pacific islands have managed their battle with the pandemic as well as possible with the resources available. The pandemic is not yet behind us and the effects of COVID-19 are significant in regards to our Pacific islands’ economies, tourism and health.  

 We are constantly bombarded by news of COVID-19 affecting the world, but as Pacific islanders our focus is usually on our collective.  

 How are our families in the islands coping with lockdown procedures when we raise children as a village? How are we fighting for climate justice when all our focus is toward keeping the healthcare system above water? How are our families making their living when flights have ceased to continue? These questions linger on our minds as we go through this global pandemic.  

 Pacific publications are doing a great job at reporting what is going on in their communities. Here is a brief summary of the effects of COVID-19 in the different Pacific regions and how they are being covered in Pacific publications:  

Melanesia:  

Melanesian nations such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon islands, Fiji and Vanuatu, are highly reported on - not only do their own nations' publications report about them, but overseas coverage has been noteworthy. This may be due to Melanesian nations having an extremely high number of cases compared to the rest of the Pacific - with PNG taking 39,909 cases and Fiji with 63,624.   

 Coverage consists of articles showing how Coronavirus is affecting these nations’ politics and elections, their health systems grappling and their death toll rising. It also heavily reports on the resistance against the vaccine in these islands and misinformation spreading. Articles also share valid health information about the vaccine. Coverage indicates that some Melanesian nations may take years to achieve basic COVID-19 vaccination coverage, hampering their economic recovery.  

 Coverage talks to these nations needing significant financial aid within their health sector and economy itself. The situations in these nations being precarious, publications within Melanesia are using their platforms to show what is happening in their region and to reach out for help.  

 Everyday life is reported to be heavily impacted by COVID-19 due to the "a region divided", with the Melanesian nations of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands lagging well behind the rest of the Pacific region. Healthcare workers are stretched to the limit, lockdowns have not been able to be enforced due to government instability and misinformation about vaccines continues to spread and cause panic.  

Polynesia:  

Polynesian islands have been taking every effort possible to ensure COVID-19 case numbers stay down. From nationwide lockdowns, cutting off all international flights and sending vaccines to each home, the governments of these nations are active and responsive. 

 Since numbers are low, coverage is based on the number of cases, hospitalisations and vaccine numbers. Publications continue to report on everyday life as much as possible. Stories are highly personal and show how COVID-19 is affecting small businesses, villages, sports teams. Personal opinions about the vaccines also feature.  

 The impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector regularly makes the news and there is much coverage on livelihoods that have been impacted. Interestingly reports have started to hone in on the pandemic shifting global focus away from the Pacific climate fight.  

 In terms of the span of coverage, Tonga features highly due to the high number of cases they are currently facing, especially given the tsunami. Reports talk about keeping safe from COVID-19 balanced with how to rebuild their nation.  

 The other nations (Samoa, Niue, Tokelau, Cook Islands) have less COVID-19 coverage, possibly due to the lower number of reported cases.  

 The successful rollout of vaccines is praised by scientists and overseas governments with Polynesian islands being close to reaching full nation coverage. The focus them move to ceasing the utilisation of lockdowns to allow a freeing up of livelihoods. Due to this status, we can see reports of children going back to school, sports teams holding tournaments, conferences and leisure activities continuing.  

Micronesia:  

COVID-19 coverage in Micronesian nations is minimal. Publications are limited in number and resources scarce even before the pandemic hit. Guam takes majority of the coverage due to it being a US territory and its case numbers of over 35k. Attempting to find information on the life in the islands after the effects of COVID-19 is also difficult. Reports focus on case numbers, that vaccination numbers are low.  

Micronesian nations such as the Federated States of Micronesia and Guam do have COVID-19 restrictions in place as well as travel borders closed. Information on the status of the people and personal stories is harder to find.  

Overall, the status of COVID-19 in the Pacific varies from region to region, you can see that coverage of the pandemic is more focused on the larger islands. It seems that nations that have diplomatic ties have been able to put lockdown and vaccine information in place.  

Coverage of the pandemic within the islands and to the wider diaspora is extremely important to keep informed, to help those that are struggling and to reinforce connections between Pacific people