Timoci Vula
Image: FT FILE
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has, since yesterday, been investigating the potential for further exposure of COVID-19 in the Fiji Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
Permanent secretary Dr James Fong said their medical and laboratory staff had not registered positive test results at this time.
However, he added they were in the process of deep cleaning and decontaminating the centre in line with advice received from the reference laboratory in Melbourne.
“As a result, there will be no testing onsite for at least another 24 hours,” Dr Fong said.
“The Fiji CDC is where we process the vast majority of COVID-19 tests.
The first of the four new cases is from Makoi and presented to Oceania Hospital with symptoms.
“At this early stage of the investigation, this case has no known links to other cases,” Dr Fong said.
“The Oceania Hospital outpatients department was temporarily closed yesterday for contact tracing and decontamination. Anyone who potentially had contact with this case at the hospital has been quarantined.”
The second case is also from Makoi and he is an administration staff member of the Fiji CDC.
Tested after annual leave
Dr Fong said that according to Fiji CDC protocol the man was tested after returning this week from annual leave.
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Timoci Vula
Image: FT FILE
The Fiji Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has been sequestered with staff onsite or placed in quarantine facilities and lab testing temporarily halted.
This after three administration staff members tested positive for COVID-19 that were announced tonight.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said they knew there was limited contact between administration staff and the lab personnel because of existing protocols.
However, he said they made this decision as a result of those cases.
“Testing has temporarily halted while decontamination is being completed,” Dr Fong said.
“The onsite staff will continue processing samples after decontamination of the facility and they will be tested and retested frequently during their sequestration period, similar to what is happening at Lautoka Hospital.”
Timoci Vula
3 May, 2021, 7:49 pm
An empty Suva bus station during the Suva-Nausori lockdown which began today, May 1, 2021. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA
Tests conducted by the Fiji Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on 791 garment workers and some secondary contacts had come out negative.
Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary Dr James Fong said they had been able to narrow down the number of work contacts for case 113 – the 52-year-old garment worker – from 877 to 771.
He said they continued to investigate whether there were other contacts that needed to be screened and tested.
“While we do not have any positive results yet from the contacts at the two garment factories, that could change at any point throughout the 14-day incubation window for the virus,” Dr Fong said.