Category Public Advisory

Date: December 3rd, 2020

STATEMENT FROM THE PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES

Bula Vinaka.

Today we are announcing two new border quarantine cases of COVID-19. These are Fijian citizens who arrived at Nadi airport on flight NZ952 from Auckland on Thursday 19^th November. Both are females, aged 75 and 57 respectively, who resides in Auckland, New Zealand.

It is likely that these two individuals contracted the virus on the flight from Auckland, as they were both seated near a person who tested positive on day 2 of border quarantine. They had both tested negative in Auckland, 72 hours before boarding the flight to Nadi, then tested negative again during day 2 testing in our border quarantine. Their positive test results have come on day 12 of border quarantine.

These new cases have been under strict border quarantine conditions since they arrived in Fiji. They are both in stable condition and have been transferred to the isolation unit at Lautoka hospital in accordance with our standard protocol for transfer and isolation of confirmed cases.

During this festive time, the Ministry of Health expects to continue to get more Border Quarantine cases. Furthermore, we have the cyclone season. The Ministry of Health in collaboration with our security forces has made pre-emptive changes to mitigate any risk at our borders. However, we still encourage the public to observe the basic COVID safe measures of handwashing, cough etiquette, and physical distancing during this season. Hands, Face, and Space remains the mantra of the season.

More information on COVID-19 in Fiji is available at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services website: http://www.health.gov.fj/covid-19-updates

Date: November 30th 2020

Bula Vinaka.

Today we are announcing four new border quarantine cases of COVID-19. These are Fijian citizens who arrived at Nadi airport on flight NZ952 from Auckland on Thursday 26th November: a 28 year old female and 58 year old male who had travelled from Kenya, a 36 year old male travelling from Mali, and a 53 year old male travelling from France.

As with previous border quarantine cases, these four new cases were under strict border quarantine conditions from the time the flight into Nadi landed. This includes entering compulsory 14-day quarantine at a government designated quarantine facility- supervised by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. They are all in stable condition and have been transferred to the isolation unit at Lautoka hospital according to our standard protocol for confirmed cases.

With these new cases we now have 7 active border quarantine cases. And as I continue to emphasize: As long as our border quarantine and isolation unit infection prevention control protocols are upheld, there is no risk to the Fijian public from these new border quarantine cases.

Now at 226 days without a local case of COVID-19 in our communities, we continue to support and commend our frontline border and isolation unit staff as they protect Fiji from the pandemic.

More information on COVID-19 in Fiji is available at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services website: http://www.health.gov.fj/covid-19-updates

Media Release

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) today is announcing three (3) new border quarantine cases of COVID-19.

The 1^st 2 cases are Fijian citizens who are both in their 40s and worked in a mining company in Mali. They started their journey home from Mali on the 16^th of November, to board the repatriation flight from New Zealand on the 19^th of November. They both displayed minor symptoms on arrival which has now resolved.

The 3^rd case is a 51-year-old male non-Fiji citizen who arrived in Nadi on the 19^th of November, on the same New Zealand flight. His port of origin was Germany. He has a work permit in Fiji and returning with his family to complete his contract. He is asymptomatic now and isolated from his family.

As with all prior border quarantine cases, these latest cases have been under strict border quarantine conditions since arrival into Nadi, at which time they began compulsory 14-day quarantine at a government-designated quarantine facility under supervision from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the MHMS.

The 3 individual positive entry test, was conducted on day 2 of quarantine as part of the standard border process.

Fiji now has 38 COVID-19 cases overall, and these new cases mean Fiji now has three (3) active COVID cases. The patients are in stable condition and have been transferred to the isolation ward at the Lautoka hospital as per standard protocol for confirmed cases. The frontline border and quarantine staff who were directly involved with these patients will all be monitored and tested as per COVID-19 protocols.

MHMS wishes to remind the public and those intending to travel into Fiji that our Border Health protection team will continue to diligently enforce our border quarantine and infection control protocols, and therefore these border quarantine cases continue to pose zero risks to the health and wellbeing of the Fijian public.

MHMS and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces in preparation for an increase in repatriation activity at the border are now strengthening the border health quarantine team with the training and deployment of officials and increased supply of PPEs.

MHMS also requests the public to continue to practice physical distancing, proper cough etiquette, and good hand hygiene. The public is also to adhere to all health recommendations and instructions to ensure that we remain COVID contained.

——–end——–

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) today is announcing one new border quarantine case of COVID-19. The patient is a 53-year-old male Fijian citizen who arrived in Nadi on Thursday 5^th November 2020, on a repatriation flight from New Zealand. His Initial port of Origin was the United States of America.

As with all prior border quarantine cases, this latest patient has been under strict border quarantine conditions since arrival into Nadi, at which time he began compulsory 14-day quarantine at a government-designated quarantine facility under supervision from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the MHMS. He has not displayed any symptoms since his arrival in Fiji. The entry test was conducted on day 2 of quarantine as part of our standard border process.

Fiji has now had 35 COVID-19 cases overall, and this new case is Fiji’s only active COVID case. He remains in stable condition and has been transferred to the isolation ward at the Lautoka hospital as per standard protocol for confirmed cases. The frontline border and quarantine staff who were directly involved with this patient will all be monitored and tested as necessary.

Our border Health protection team continues to diligently enforce our border quarantine and infection control protocols, and therefore this border quarantine case continues to pose zero risks to the health and wellbeing of the Fijian public.

 -ENDS-