The Health ministry has paid out over $2 million in quarantine costs for 200 travellers to the country who were billeted in local hotels.

And the ministry will continue to fork out for as long as it takes, Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqanabete said yesterday.

His comments followed concerns over earlier reports that passengers had to pay $6000, on top of airfares, for quarantine costs.

Travel advisory

In an advisory dated April 16, national carrier Fiji Airways said all travellers to Fiji from April 16 would have to foot individual quarantine costs – at hotels designated by the Health ministry.

The costs were to cover accommodation, food and and beverage, the advisory said.

Fiji Airways then referred all queries on the matter to the Health ministry.

Dr Waqainabete said the matter arose out of miscommunication between travel agencies.

“It has been funded by the Government, and will continue to be funded by the Government for as long as it takes.

“The Ministry of Economy has given us enough to cover whatever is there.”

The quarantine period was raised from 14 days to 28 days after a man suspected of the virus showed signs of infection 14 days after he was initially tested.

Before the Government had mandated quarantine measures, travellers practised self-isolation at their expense.

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