Last Updated on 3 years by Publishing Team
Media Release
COVID-19 Update
27th January 2021
There have been 0 new cases of COVID-19 since the last update on January 25th, and there are currently 0 active cases in Fiji.
Fiji has had 55 cases of COVID-19 in total, with 53 recoveries and 2 deaths, since our first case was reported on March 19th, 2020. The last 37 cases have been international travel-associated cases detected in border quarantine. It has been 284 days since the last case was detected outside border quarantine on April 18th.
A total of 25,433 laboratory tests have been conducted, with a weekly average of 1120 tests over the last 2 weeks.
A 38-year-old crewmember onboard the international cargo ship the MV Papuan Chief, which arrived in Fiji on January 24th, has returned a weak positive test result, indicating that a very small amount of viral material was present in the sample. A repeat test was negative, and he is well with no symptoms. Furthermore, this person reportedly tested positive and was confirmed as a COVID-19 case in Ukraine in November 2020. He recovered in December and entered Seoul South Korea, completing 14 days quarantine and returning negative tests, before joining the ship in Busan South Korea on January 2nd. It is known that non-infectious pieces of the virus can remain detectable, and cause a positive test result long after the infection has passed; therefore it is unlikely that this person is currently infectious. Due to the test results, and history of testing positive in Ukraine, this is considered a historical case, and is not counted as a new case for Fiji. However, out of an abundance of caution, he has been isolated onboard the ship.
The MV Papuan Chief arrived in Fiji on January 24th after stops in Port Vila, Noumea, and Majuro. None of the crew disembarked the ship in Fiji, and the small number of Fijian officials that boarded, and may have had any contact with the crew, were in compliance with all infection control measures, including wearing the necessary personal protective equipment and physical distancing.
All other crew members on the MV Papuan Chief have tested negative. 2 Fijian crew members that had since requested to disembark are currently undergoing 14-day quarantine in government-designated quarantine facilities in Nadi. The rest of the crew will not disembark the ship in Fiji.
For more information on COVID-19 in Fiji please visit the Ministry of Health and Medical Services web page http://www.health.gov.fj/covid-19-updates/
The next scheduled update will be on Friday, January 29th.
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