COVID-19: Two new border cases recorded

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Ministry of Health acting permanent secretary Dr James Fong at an earlier press conference in Suva. Picture: PAULINI RATULAILAI/FILE

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed two new border cases of  COVID-19 in Fiji.

According to the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr James Fong , they are a 49-year-old female and 58-year-old female who arrived from New Zealand on December 24th.

“Both individuals tested positive during routine exit testing while undergoing mandatory quarantine in the government designated (and Republic of Fiji Military Forces supervised) border quarantine facilities in Nadi,” he said.

“The individuals were safely and hygienically transferred to the isolation ward at the Lautoka hospital in accordance with the standard protocol for confirmed cases. They were asymptomatic and well since arrival in Fiji.”

The frontline border and quarantine staff who were directly involved with the cases have followed the standard infection prevention and control protocols and will be monitored and tested as necessary.

Fiji has had 55 cases in total since our first case was detected on March 19, with the last 34 cases detected in border quarantine.

It has been 302 days since our first case and 272 days since the last case was detected outside border quarantine, the statement added.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and its partner agencies have reviewed the strategies at the border to ensure that the risks are negligible.

The border agents with the MHMS and RFMF continue to diligently enforce border quarantine and infection control protocols.

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