SUVA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Tonga's Ministry of Health has said that 91 percent of the South Pacific island country's target population aged 12 and above have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to Tonga's news website Matangi Tonga Online on Thursday, the ministry said 91 percent of its population aged 12 and above have received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccines, at least 98 percent have received their first dose, and 58 percent have taken the booster shots.

Currently, Tonga has 941 active COVID-19 cases, and the COVID-19 related death toll remains at 11.

The island country has further eased the orange level restrictions in a lockdown, with gyms, bars, and kava clubs allowed to open for the period from May 7 to 27.

In another South Pacific island country of Samoa, the current state of emergency over COVID-19 has been extended for an additional 28 days, from May 9 to June 5.

Samoa's Ministry of Health has recorded one more COVID-19 related death in recent days, bringing the death toll to 23.

In Samoa, the total number of positive cases currently stands at 11,045, including 10,969 community cases.