Seven hundred and sixty-six people are currently in Government quarantine facilities undergoing their 14-day mandatory quarantine period, while three active COVID-19 cases remain in isolation at the Lautoka Hospital.

This was revealed by Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete yesterday.

Dr Waqainabete said it had been 348 days since the first case and 317 days since Fiji had its last recorded case outside of border quarantine.

He said that the ministry had also conducted a total of 30,000 tests, with a daily average of 209 tests per day over the last seven days.

Dr Waqainabete made the revelation while accepting 22,200 GeneXpert test kits from the Asian Development Bank and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) yesterday.

In receiving the test kits, Dr Waqainabete said the test kits would, over the next few months, increase their capacity to carry out tests in the country.

“This form of testing is actually faster, it will strengthen our capacity to screen samples in our borders, high risk communities as well,” he said.

“We are testing vigorously within the community. We had 200 tests done yesterday and we only have three active cases.

“We are testing extensively within the community and because the tests are returning negative we are sure to say that we are COVID-contained.”

He acknowledged the two partners with the assistance rendered to the ministry to boost its testing capacity.

UNICEF Pacific Island Representative Sheldon Yett said having testing capacities was as important as the procurement of vaccines.

“This is one of the most accurate tests in the world, they will go a long way to ensure that Fiji is safe and COVID contained,” he said.

“It will help front liners ensure that everyone is safe.

“I thank the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for all that they have done to keep Fiji COVID-contained.”

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