Fiji’s Ministry of Health today confirmed four new cases of COVID19, of which three are local cases involving two nurses, one of whom is based at the Raiwaqa Health Centre prompting its closure to the public, and health care rerouted to neighbouring facilities.
The 47-year-old was swabbed after she reported a slight cough and upon confirmation that she had the virus prompted officials to close off the health facility. Her household contacts were also swabbed during which the lady’s husband aged 51 years tested positive as well.
The second nurse, aged 25 years is based at the Lautoka Hospital and was one of 400 people who were stood down last night following the death of case 125 or the 53-year-old man. She was placed in isolation after testing positive.
The fourth case, recorded in border quarantine, involves a 22-year-old Tongan male who was transiting through Fiji from Guyana. He arrived in Nadi via Auckland on 22 April and is the travelling partner of a previously announced border quarantine case referred to as case 115 – a 23-year-old male whose positive status was announced on 29 April 2021.
All of the contacts including relevant personnel and patients stemming from the Raiwaqa nurse and her husband have been quarantined and their travel history mapped out for contact tracing works.
Investigations are ongoing in both cases to establish the source of infection.
Fiji now has 42 active cases in isolation, 9 are boarder quarantine cases, 29 are locally transmitted cases, and 4 are currently under investigation to determine the source of transmission.
Alternative Health Care in Raiwaqa and Lautoka
In Raiwaqa:
- Screening will be conducted at the nearby Public Rental Board Facility
- Patients who need treatment can visit Samabula Health Centre, Sai Sanjevani Medical Centre at Suva Point or Valelevu Health Centre
In Lautoka (non COVID19 care):
- Kamikamica Health Centre – opens 24 hours
- Punjas Health Centre – open until 8 pm
- Viseisei Health Centre – for pregnant mothers care and delivery
Also going forward:
- Discussions are ongoing with private practitioners in the Nadi-Lautoka-Ba areas to cater for the treatment and care for non-COVID patients, with the Fijian Government to foot their bills
- A 150-bed non-COVID field hospital is scheduled to be set up and running in Lautoka within 48 hours to handle patients with illnesses that can be treated on a 21-day timeline.
