Additional lockdowns in Northern Division after COVID-19 case takes total to 17

PM Voreqe Bainimarama says contact tracing teams will widen their testing to all close contacts of the 17 confirmed cases. Picture: Fijian Government FB page

By WANSOLWARA STAFF

A 21-year-old man on Vanua Levu has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), taking the total number of cases Fiji to 17.

And according to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, the man was a relative and travelling companion of case nine. He said they travelled together from India to Singapore and on to Fiji.

The latest positive test follows on from last week’s confirmed case of the nine-year-old granddaughter of case nine.

“Since his return to Fiji, this young man (case 17) has not shown a single symptom of the virus. You will recall our original case definition for virus testing required that patients display symptoms,” Mr Bainimarama said yesterday.

“Upon returning to the country from overseas, this young man was in self-quarantine for two full weeks, up until April 5. Free of any symptoms throughout the virus’s known two-week incubation period, by all appearances, he was in the clear.

“But as experts have unveiled more about the insidious nature of this virus, and our understanding of the disease has evolved, the way we define and contain cases must evolve as well.”

The PM said they would widen their testing to all close contacts of the confirmed cases from this week, regardless of whether they displayed symptoms.

He said this was how case 17 had been identified and immediately taken into isolation along with close contacts in separate isolation facilities.

“We are now extending the quarantine period to a full 28 days, both for anyone who is newly-quarantined and to those who currently are waiting out their initial 14-day period,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“Our contact tracing stemming from this latest case has revealed the need for additional lockdowns on Vanua Levu. The Vunicagi Settlement between Nabowalu and Labasa will be locked down for the next 28 days.

“The settlement lies along a short stretch of vital highway which vehicles will still be allowed to traverse under 24/7 police monitoring, as no alternate routes into Labasa exist. However, no passengers will be allowed to disembark or embark: No one in and no one out.”

Lockdown of the Soasoa settlement would also be extended another 14 days, in line with the 28-day quarantine policy. Given the continued risk of transmission on Vanua Levu, the PM said the ban on inter-island travel by air and sea remained in effect.

Meanwhile, the 16 patients living with coronavirus are in stable condition.