Category Press Release

MEDIA RELEASE 8: 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS

There are no confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus in Fiji

 The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services advises that the results of the two Fijian nationals who were isolated in Nadi Hospital have returned negative and they will soon be on their way home.

Last night (6 February), a foreign national with a fever was placed under isolation at Nadi Hospital. Lab samples for confirmatory testing for 2019-nCoV are being sent to the WHO Collaborating Centre reference laboratory in Melbourne Australia. The Ministry’s response teams are also managing close contacts of the patient.

The Ministry will provide an update to the public on the results of the lab test once they are available.

As the symptoms of 2019-nCoV are very similar to many other respiratory illnesses (including colds and influenza) it is expected that with time the Ministry will investigate more persons with relevant travel history and symptoms related to the 2019-nCoV. This should not alarm the public, as this is an indication of the level of alert we are maintaining for this globally spreading disease.

What can you do?

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to strongly urge the public to not share rumours and misinformation.  Just as we did during the measles outbreak the Ministry will inform the public as soon as possible once we have a confirmed case. Use credible sources for information on 2019-nCoV:

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services website http://www.health.gov.fj/

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji/

WHO website https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

 How can you prevent yourself from getting 2019-nCoV and other diseases?

• Frequently clean hands soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough
• Avoid travel to mainland China

If you have been to mainland China in the last 14 days and develop symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

• Central 2219905
• Eastern 2219906
• Western 2219907
• Northern 2219908

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.

 The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is currently investigating two Fijian citizens for novel coronavirus after their arrival into Fiji on Monday February 3^rd from Guangdong in China. Both currently have mild symptoms and are under isolation at Nadi Hospital. Lab samples for confirmatory testing for 2019-nCoV are being sent to the WHO Collaborating Centre reference laboratory in Melbourne Australia. The Ministry’s response teams are also managing close contacts of the patients.

There are currently no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Fiji – the Ministry will provide an update to the public on the two persons under investigation once lab results are available.

As the symptoms of 2019-nCoV are very similar to many other respiratory illnesses (including colds and influenza) it is expected that with time the Ministry will investigate more persons with relevant travel history and symptoms related to 2019-nCoV. This should not alarm the public, as this is an indication of the level of alert we are maintaining for this globally spreading disease.

What can you do?

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to strongly urge the public to not share rumours and misinformation.  Just as we did during the measles outbreak the Ministry will inform the public as soon as possible once we have a confirmed case. Use credible sources for information on 2019-nCoV:

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services website http://www.health.gov.fj/

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji/

WHO website https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

How can you prevent yourself from getting 2019-nCoV and other diseases?

• Frequently clean hands soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough
• Avoid travel to mainland China

If you have been to mainland China in the last 14 days and develop symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

Central 2219905  Eastern 2219906  Western 2219907  Northern 2219908

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.

 ‘Dispelling rumours and false information’

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is advising the public against spreading false information and rumours that have recently been circulated about 2019-nCoV in Fiji. Just as we did during the measles outbreak- the Ministry will inform the public as soon as possible once we have a confirmed case of 2019-nCoV. There are currently no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Fiji

Rumours about Lautoka hospital confirmed case on Friday 31^st January

A circulating rumour is that Lautoka hospital has a confirmed case of 2019-nCoV after medical staff were seen wearing personal protective equipment on Friday 31^st January. The truth is that the Lautoka Hospital Novel Coronavirus Infection Contingency Plan (LHNCICP) was activated on Friday 31^st January after a patient was reviewed by doctors in the emergency department. The LHNCICP contingency plan was activated as a precaution. After further investigation it was determined that the patient was not a suspected case of 2019-nCoV  (the patient did not have respiratory symptoms or a relevant travel history) and the contingency plan was stood down.

The rapid activation of the Lautoka Hospital Novel Coronavirus Infection Contingency Plan 3 (LHNCICP) is an indication of the high level of alert that our health staff have for this new disease and the plans that are already in place to address it.

Fiji Airways flight Singapore-Nadi FJ360 flight on Sunday February 2^nd 2020

Our health team at Nadi airport were informed by Fiji Airways prior to the landing of FJ360 of a sick cabin crew member on board. Upon landing, established disembarkation procedures for a sick passenger/crew were enacted, and the sick crew member was examined by our doctors. The cabin crew member was assessed as not suspected case of 2019-nCoV based on symptoms and absence of relevant travel history.

The Ministry commends Fiji Airways for the rapid notification to our team on the ground. This and the rapid response by our team is an indication of the strengthened health measures at our borders.

What can you do?

The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to strongly urge the public to not share rumours and misinformation.  Use credible sources for information on 2019-nCoV:

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services website http://www.health.gov.fj/

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji/

WHO website https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

How can you prevent yourself from getting 2019-nCoV and other diseases?

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• Avoid travel to mainland China

If you have been to mainland China in the last 14 days and develop symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

Central 2219905  Eastern 2219906  Western 2219907  Northern 2219908

The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.

This morning, at 0800 Fiji time, WHO’s Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, on advisement of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over the global outbreak of novel coronavirus. He summarised the recommendations for the prevention of the spread of 2019-nCoV and ensuring a measured and evidenced – based response, in seven key areas:

1. No reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with travel and trade.
2. We must support countries with weaker health systems.
3. Accelerate the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics
4. Combat the spread of rumours and misinformation
5. Review preparedness plans, identify gaps and evaluate the resources needed to identify, isolate and care for cases and prevent transmission
6. Share data, knowledge and experience with WHO in the world
7. The only way we will defeat this outbreak is for all countries to work together in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.

Dr Tedros commended the work and commitment China had shown in its response to the virus and called on all countries to work together, saying, “ We are all in this together and we can only stop it together. This is the time for facts, not fear. This is the time for science not rumours. This is the time for solidarity, not stigma.”

The Government of Fiji is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the 2019-nCoV that is now present in eighteen countries with no deaths outside of China. At present there are no cases of 2019-nCov in Fiji and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services can confirm that the travellers who were under quarantine as a precaution have tested negative for 2019-nCoV and have been cleared.

The Ministry is working closely with relevant border control agencies to implement further enhanced health screenings and treatment guidelines to detect and manage ill passengers traveling to Fiji on direct or connecting flights from affected areas, especially Hubei Province, China, in a concerted effort to rapidly contain the virus. In his statement this morning, WHO DG reiterated “WHO does not recommend limiting trade or movement and calls on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence based and consistent”.

A supplementary health card will shortly be given to all inbound travellers to complete before being allowed into the country. Based on the information they provide in the card, travellers will be advised on what procedures to follow, in addition to taking with them pertinent information on 2019-nCoV and what they can do if they become ill, in the form of a tear-off section.

Entry screening is part of a layered approach used with other public health measures already in place to detect arriving travellers who are sick (such as detection and reporting of ill travellers by airlines and vessels during travel and referral of ill travellers arriving at a port of entry) to slow and reduce the spread of any disease into Fiji.

Fiji is actively monitoring this situation for relevant information from WHO and other credible sources about the outbreak as it evolves.

What can you do?

Whilst we await further information about this new disease, at this time the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to remind the public that staying calm and continuing to practice good hygiene is important in helping to protect them against many diseases.

This includes:

• Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• Avoid non-essential travel to mainland China
• If you have been to China in the last 14 days and develop any of the symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

Central 2219905  Eastern 2219906  Western 2219907  Northern 2219908

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.

-ENDS-

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For more information on Government events and decisions log onto the official Government portal at www.fiji.gov.fj

                                                                                              Date: 28/01/2020

 ‘Rapid public health detection and response systems the best protection against novel coronavirus’

 The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is closely monitoring the current outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 – nCoV) in China and is continuing its efforts to prepare for its potential introduction to Fiji. At present there are no confirmed cases of 2019 – nCoV in Fiji, or any other Pacific island country.

What is Fiji doing?

In response to the increased threat of 2019 – nCoV, the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is working closely with relevant Government ministries, World Health Organization and partners to enhance its public health systems to rapidly detect, test and respond if a case is identified in Fiji.  This is because international spread of the disease is best stopped by rapid containment efforts at the source, and early detection and response, not by implementing unnecessary restrictions to international travel. Travel bans have been proven to be ineffective in stopping infectious diseases crossing borders, and may in fact worsen the impact of an outbreak. Fiji did not impose travel bans during the SARS epidemic in 2003 nor the H1N1 influenza (swine flu) pandemic in 2009. Most countries worldwide have not implemented travel bans in response to this outbreak in China, and they are not recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Alongside other countries globally, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States, Fiji has intensified efforts to reduce the risk of the virus being introduced and spreading in Fiji through a multilayered approach, including early identification of cases at the international borders and in the community, targeted awareness for high-risk persons, in particular travelers visiting or returning from affected areas, and enhancing the skills and resources of our health staff to rapidly respond if a case is identified.

As a core part of Fiji’s preparedness for possible introduction of the virus, the Ministry is working with international border control stakeholders, including airlines and airport and port authorities, to enhance existing mechanisms to detect ill travelers at international points of entry. Under Fijian legislation, airlines and vessels are required to report any ill passengers prior to disembarking. All travellers arriving on flights from Hong Kong and Singapore undergo additional health screening. And as an added health screening measure, all incoming passengers will soon be required to complete s supplementary arrivals card – an Arrival Health Declaration Form- to help ensure all travelers are checked for their potential exposure to the virus.

On Wednesday 29 January, the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services will begin providing refresher training to health workers on infection prevention and control measures, ensuring they are aware and equipped with the correct procedures and protective wear to safely respond to any potential cases.

What can you do?

Whilst we await further information about this new disease, at this time the Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to remind the public that staying calm and continuing to practice good hygiene is important in helping to protect them against many diseases.

This includes:

• Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough;
• Avoid non-essential travel to mainland China
• If you have been to China in the last 14 days and develop any of the symptoms (fever, cough or difficulty breathing), immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

Central 2219905 | Eastern 2219906 | Western 2219907 | Northern 2219908

The Fijian Ministry of Health and Medical Services is monitoring the developing situation and will provide updates regularly to the public.