More than 4000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the country as of the past week, says Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

Dr Waqainabete said the ministry’s testing capacity had increased dramatically from 15 tests daily to now 100 tests.

“Our positivity rate is one of the highest in the world, we are testing very widely and beyond World Health Organisation criteria and we want to make sure we test as much as we can,” he said.

Leptospirosis, Typhoid, Diarrhea, Dengue

Dr Waqainabete said three people had died from dengue-related illnesses in the country post severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He said the public health components also focused on leptospirosis, typhoid, diarrhea and dengue.

“I’m also actually pleased to see that different municipal councils, community members and organisations are helping us in this fight.”

He said they continued to provide advice and appropriate recommendations to the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the lifting of restrictions.

“The thing that’s becoming very clear is that when restrictions are lifted and a country goes back to their new normal the risk of COVID-19 is very high.

“So we have to keep pushing this new behavioural change in which we live in the new normal.”

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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