13 New COVID-19 Cases, All Part Of Repatriation: Dr Fong

Thirteen new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the Northern Division.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said the cases were detected in quarantine and were part of the repatriation programme to the Northern Division.

Dr Fong said there was ongoing surveillance conducted for all repatriates.

Over the seven-day period from 20/10/21 to 26/10/21, he said the ministry recorded 60 quarantine test results of concern from around 700 travellers to Vanua Levu.

Containment protocols

“All COVID-19 cases in the Northern Division will require activation of containment protocols,” Dr Fong said.

“All 60 persons were fully vaccinated and had tested negative prior to travel to the Vanua Levu.”

From these 60 persons, he said 10 were potentially infected and were being isolated.

Dr Fong also said home quarantine measures had been activated for their primary contacts while a further 31 cases were considered non-infectious or at very low risk of being infectious; 19 cases were weakly positive.

The ministry is awaiting repeat test results from the Fiji CDC laboratory while they remain under home quarantine.

Dr Fong said the North Medical Team was working with the Commissioner Northern Division and Ministry of Economy teams on a rational basis for cases and family members on movement protocol.

Possible Community Transmission

The Ministry is now investigating a possible community transmission case in Savusavu.

While it may not be necessarily a community transmission, Dr Fong said they will investigate.

There are claims that some people who went from Suva to a funeral outside the Savusavu area were infected with COVID-19.

“As mentioned in my last few public advisories, we have increased repatriation and relaxed quarantine conditions because vaccination rate has improved,” Dr Fong said.

“We have also prepositioned clinics, especially in Nabouwalu and Labasa Hospitals.”

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