Last Updated on 3 years by Publishing Team
Statement from the Permanent Secretar
Thursday, August 19, 2021
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is announcing 1 case of COVID-19 from Rakiraki Village in Yale, Kadavu, in the Eastern Division. This is a 63-year-old woman who was declared dead on arrival by the attending medical officer at the Vunisea Hospital in Kadavu on 17/08/2021. This means she died at home or on the way to hospital. Her family reported that she had cough, fever and shortness of breath. She was swabbed as per protocol and tested positive for COVID-19. She was not vaccinated. This death is currently classified as under investigation while awaiting investigation and issuance of a death certificate by the medical team.
Early investigations have indicated that this person had contact with individuals who travelled unauthorized between Suva and Kadavu. A response team is currently onsite investigating the case and conducting public health investigations with testing and quarantine of contacts.
To help with our Public Health Containment measures we are suspending shipping services to Kadavu for a week starting today (19th of August to the 26th of August 2021). Investigations continue, and further announcements will be made on the future measures that will be put in place to contain spread on the island.
The Ministry of Health and Medical services reiterates its call for maritime islanders to not engage in unauthorised travel to and from Viti Levu. All our current protocols to regulate domestic movements must be adhered to. Furthermore, we repeat our call to all village leaders and elders to support our current efforts to protect our maritime islands and to report immediately any suspicious movements into your community.