Freda Vuatalevu-Lovo

2 weeks or else : Dr Fong after confirmation of ‘dangerous new COVID19 variant’ in Fiji

Fiji's Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong today issued an urgent plea to all Fijians, to up the fight over the next two weeks and prevent any outbreak, warning of dire consequences following confirmation of the existence of one of the more infectious COVID19 variant in the country, B1617, that was first detected in India. The ultimatum also comes after revelations that four of the six new cases recorded yesterday are soldiers who recently returned from overseas duties and had contracted the virus during their 14-day quarantine because "some had been fraternising amongst each other", contrary to protocols. Two other cases were recorded among family members of the 40-year-old mother from Wainitarawau in Cunningham, which Dr Fong said compounded the infectious nature of the virus. The protocol breaches by the military officers and the infectious nature of the virus have also prompted Fijian authorities to recall all individuals who were discharged from the Tanoa Hotel from 12 April to be screened, swabbed and tested. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Fiji steps up restrictions after first community case, a possible new cluster

Fijian authorities have stepped up restrictions within the Lami-Suva-Nausori corridor and the Nadi-Lautoka containment area after they found no link between one of the four new cases announced today and the country's current cluster of local cases. Unlike the earlier locally transmitted cases, the case reported in Makoi, involving a 29-year-old woman, cannot be traced back to the current cluster, linked to the military officers and the hotel staff otherwise known as Fiji's cases 73 and 74 respectively. At this point, authorities are treating the case as a possible community transmission case (a case with no known link to other cases or international travel), and as such forced to take strict precautionary measures against the possibility that the virus has spread within the Lami-Suva-Nausori areas and within the Nadi-Lautoka area. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Second daughter of hotel staff tests positive for COVID19, in quarantine: Health

Fiji's active coronavirus cases have increased to 20 after the second daughter of the country's hotel staff otherwise known as case 74 tested positive for coronavirus. The 14-year-old girl had been in quarantine since Sunday 18 April and tested positive on day four of her stay, which meant that she was unlikely to have been infectious before she entered quarantine, health authorities say. "We know that this virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days. So a person may take up to 14 days to have enough virus in their bodies to develop symptoms or trigger a positive test result. Importantly, the level of virus that becomes detectable on a test also relates to how infectious that person is at the time. If someone has no symptoms and tests negative in the community, it is very unlikely that they were infectious, even if they later test positive during the 14-day quarantine period." CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

33-hour restricted movement, and mask-up when in public spaces in Fiji: Health

A restricted movement order will be imposed for 33 hours across Viti Levu, beginning from 7pm tomorrow, Saturday, 24 April for essential runs only as Fijian authorities made it mandatory across Fiji, from tomorrow as well, to wear masks and have the careFIJI app switched on when in public spaces to assist in COVID19 contact tracing and screening efforts. Suva mobile screening starts tomorrow with all 50 households within the screening zone established on Cunningham Road. More than 20,000 Fijians have been screened in the West, and the campaign will continue throughout the weekend, hence the plea to stay home as much as possible this weekend. Businesses, including municipal markets, and public transport operators have been put on notice to wear masks and to only entertain customers wearing masks from tomorrow. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Fiji active COVID19 cases up to 19 after eight people including infant tests positive

Fiji's active coronavirus case has risen to 19, after eight more people, including an infant, were today confirmed positive for the virus. Of the eight, two are Fiji's latest locally transmission cases emanating from the same cluster headed by the 33-year-old military officer or the country's case 73, while six are new border quarantine cases. The two locally transmission cases are the seven-month-old son and a 14-year-old daughter of a 40-year-old woman from Wainitarawau in Cunningham otherwise known as the country's case 78, whose positive diagnosis was announced yesterday. The 40-year-old woman, authorities say was a close contact of the hotel quarantine worker or case 74. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Market produce supply for locked-down area: Agriculture

Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture has made arrangements with market vendors in the locked-down areas of the Western Division to ensure a consistent supply of vegetables and crops. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture, Ritesh Dass said senior management met with representatives of market vendors in Nadi and Lautoka to discuss the provision of fresh vegetables and crops to those living within the locked-down zones. “I am glad to say that following successful meetings and discussions, market vendors will be contacting their suppliers in these areas, if they have not already done so, for the supply of fresh market produce at the borders of the locked-down areas. The vendors will pick it from the borders and take it to the market where our fellow Fijians in the lockdown zone can have access to produce and buy it,” he said. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

All prior approvals for extra-curricular activities are now suspended: Education

Fiji's Ministry of Education has suspended all prior approvals for extra-curricular activities in an announcement today in which they also directed that all schools across the country close for term one holidays from tomorrow, for three weeks. Minister for Education Rosy Akbar said the decision was made following consultation with the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete. “The safety and well-being of our people including all school children and teachers is paramount and, as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 and the recent cases, we have decided to bring forward the Term 1 school holidays,” Akbar said. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Lockdown to assist contact tracing and reduce further transmission: Government

Fijian Government says the lockdown in the greater Nadi and Lautoka area and 24-hour curfew effective from 4 am today is “to aid rapid contact tracing and reduce the likelihood of further transmission” after one of the first-generation contacts of Fiji’s 73rd case, not only tested positive for coronavirus but had also “entered public spaces.” The lockdown and new curfew order covers the area spanning from Momi junction and Mulomulo post bearing towards Sigatoka to Nacilau, Vakabuli and the Waiwai crossing bearing towards Ba. “She resides in Nadi, with a travel history in Nadi and Lautoka. All members of her household have already been entered into quarantine. We are awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement today. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Authorities identify 336 possible contacts via Fiji’s 73rd COVID-19 case

Fijian authorities have identified 336 people – of 69 first-generation and 267-second generation contacts – who may have come into contact with Fiji’s 73rd COVID-19 case involving a military officer, who they said did not "violate protocol". Authorities say that while this is still a border quarantine case, there is a serious risk that cases could have entered the community, thus the need for a wider search scope and the need for everyone to continue to observe COVID19 safety precaution measures including avoiding non-essential travel and gatherings. Since yesterday, the 69 first-generation contacts were placed in quarantine and will remain there for 14 days. Of the 69 people tested, 56 came out negative. The results of the other 13 people will be known tomorrow. Authorities also rounded up and tested the 267 second-generation contacts whose results will be released gradually from tomorrow as well. Depending on these results, the ministry is expected to update the public on any new health restrictions. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE

Party registrar lifts suspension on Unity Fiji and Freedom Alliance

Fiji's Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem has lifted the suspension on Unity Fiji, following on Freedom Alliance, with HOPE still to comply. Saneem confirmed that Unity Fiji party headed by former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Savenaca Narube had complied with directives to submit their audited financial accounts. CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR MORE
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