SIXTEEN Fijian nationals are believed to have gone to India to attend the widely reported religious gathering and among them was a 54 year man of Soasoa, Labasa who is the ninth person to contract COVID19.
Patient nine formed the third cluster of patients from whom five other people were infected with the virus.
The gathering in India has generated controversy internationally as the attendees failed to adhere to COVID19 measures and restrictions.
It was believed that four of them returned to Fiji but Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete confirmed April 7 that that only two arrived into the country, one of whom was Patient 9.
“What we know is that two are back in Fiji and the others are in Malaysia. So at the moment we are in contact with our members in Malaysia and our contact tracing teams have been monitoring,” Dr Waqainabete said.
Indian media reports that the Indian government plans to blacklist nearly 300 foreigners found at the venue of the gathering, including the 16 Fijians.
Dr. Waqainabete confirmed the other person who returned with Patient 9 is on Vanua Levu and currently asymptomatic.
Meanwhile, Patient 9 had 834 possible contacts in Suva and Labasa. He and 5 other members of his family (son, wife, grand-daughter and two daughter in laws) have since tested positive for Covid-19.
Health officials and tracing teams have managed to contact all 834 possible contacts and are monitoring them.
