Timoci Vula
Police officers at the checkpoint in Lami. Picture: FT FILE
Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed that because of the steadily rising number of cases across Viti Levu, the borders of all six containment areas – Lautoka, Nadi, Rakiraki, Lami, Suva and Nausori – are being maintained.
Ministry permanent secretaru Dr James Fong said the confirmation of cases of unknown origin, in particular, indicated the virus could still be present in all six areas.
As a result, he said the borders must be enforced, as must the other restrictions that are in place.
“When the data tells us to proceed in a different direction – we’ll tell you,” Dr Fong said tonight at the COVID-19 press briefing.
“All three have been in isolation since yesterday,” he said.
“The contact tracers are locating and quarantining their close contacts. All other known primary contacts relating to the three have tested negative.”
Meanwhile, the ministry’s Head of Health Protection, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan, confirmed this evening that two patients had recovered.
Fiji now has 38 active covid-19 cases in isolation facilities, seven are border quarantine cases, 26 locally transmitted cases and five are currently being investigated to determine the source of transmission.
Talebula Kate is a Fiji Times reporter.
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Talebula Kate
9 May, 2021, 7:26 am
Ministry of Health and Medical Services permanent secretary, Dr
James Fong and Ministry of Health
head of health protection Dr Aalisha Sahukhan make their way
to the news conference at Dinem House in Toorak, Suva.
Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU/FILE
Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be using hotels and motels in Suva as quarantine centres for primary contacts of new COVID-19 cases.
Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong noted this in the daily press briefing last Friday saying the recent cases from Lautoka and Suva are troubling– as they point to wider transmission in these areas.