A 66-year-old man has tested positive for COVID-19.
The man, who is now recorded as Fiji’s 19th case, tested positive for the virus three days after returning from India on July 1 with his son.
He is considered a “border quarantine case”.
Ministry of Health acting permanent secretary Dr James Fong said the man had travelled with 107 other passengers and had transited through Indonesia.
“He has since been securely and hygienically transported to Nadi Hospital where he is being kept in isolation and is in stable condition,” he said.
“His son, who travelled with him from India, has also been moved into isolation at Nadi Hospital and is not displaying any symptoms.
“Regardless, we’ve had him tested with results expected tomorrow (today).
“The gentleman and his son arrived in Fiji on the 1st of July and from the moment of their arrival they have remained under careful and constant medical supervision.”
Dr Fong said other passengers who travelled with the pair remained securely quarantined.
“As this process has unfolded, we’ve been well-prepared for the likelihood of COVID cases developing among repatriating citizens, but Fiji has the infrastructure, surveillance capabilities and local testing capacities to ensure these ‘quarantine cases’ at the border present zero risk to the general public.
“Mandatory quarantine for all returning travellers was introduced on the 28th of March, with mandatory testing coming into effect on the 23rd of April and since that time, no returning traveller has entered the public without undergoing the full 14 days of quarantine and clearing a negative COVID test result.
“All of these quarantine facilities are under constant supervision, with support from the RFMF. No one can leave until they are medically-confirmed as free of the virus — no exceptions.”
