'Job-killer of the century': economies of Pacific islands face collapse over Covid-19

The region is largely coronavirus-free, but pandemic shutdowns and loss of tourism dollars are devastating its economies

The Covid-19 pandemic is the job-killer of the century", Fiji's prime minister has said, as economies across the Pacific face collapse from economic and travel shutdowns, exacerbating existing illnesses, and potentially driving people into hunger.

While the number of cases across the Pacific remains low - several countries across the Pacific remain Covid-free and continue to enforce strict border closures - the economic impacts have devastated tourism- and import-dependent economies.