Truck Driver Flagged By Health Ministry As A Potential COVID-19 Case Speaks Out

The truck driver, who was flagged by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services as a potential COVID-19 case, is pleading with the public to refrain from sharing misinformation.

Ashok Transport driver, Vikesh Chand, was taken into isolation on Monday but was cleared the next day after his second test came out negative.

At his home in Solove Settlement in Labasa, Mr Chand was responding to the negative comments that went viral on social media about him and his family.

“Stop spreading rumours on information gathered from social media websites and other non-government sources,” Mr Chand said

He said residents did not wish to talk to him after the debacle.

“This is not right,” he said.

“We have not done any crime or assaulted anyone.

“We were just taken in for precautionary measures to confirm whether we had the virus or not.”

He said the incident changed his life because his family’s reputation was at stake.

Regardless, Mr Chand thanked the medical team at Labasa Hospital for treating him with respect and provided him consistent updates on his health.

“My wife and two children were taken to the Labasa College quarantine facility to get swabbed and tested also on their temperature and pressure,” he said.

“I remained confident in my stance that I was not a COVID-19 patient”.

“I urge people to stay safe and follow all Government protocols because the virus has affected many Fijians in Viti Levu.”

He counted himself lucky to be cleared for the killer virus.

Meanwhile, Police are carrying out an investigation on how he managed to travel to the Labasa non containment zone.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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