53-year-old Nadi woman tests positive for COVID-19

A 53-year-old woman of Nadi who is a first-generation contact of the soldier that tested positive for COVID-19 has also registered a positive COVID-19 test result.

The Health Ministry says this woman worked in a border quarantine facility but has since entered public spaces and has a travel history in Nadi and Lautoka.

All members of her household have already been entered into quarantine.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health has announced a lockdown of the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area.

They are defining the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area as the areas spanning from Momi Junction and the Mulomulo Police Post bearing towards Sigatoka, to Nacilau, Vakabuli, and the Waiwai crossing bearing towards Ba.

Within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area, effective immediately, Police are enforcing a 24-hour curfew.

They say all Fijians in the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area should stay home and public gatherings should not happen adding no services should run except for essential medical services.

Later today, an announcement will cover when essential businesses, including banks, supermarkets, pharmacies, and other essential service providers, may safely resume operation with strict physical distancing enforced. For now, all schools and businesses will be closed.

Passenger travel out of this area has been halted by road, air, and sea. Passenger travel into the area will be permitted over the next 24 hours for Fijians who reside within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area. However, those allowed to enter the area must head straight home and will not be allowed to come out of the lockdown area.

For the rest of Fiji, schools, workplaces, businesses and inter-island shipping services may remain open. However, the government encourages people to avoid non-essential travel and large gatherings. Outside the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area, curfew hours will remain from 11pm to 4am.

The Ministry will also be re-activating fever clinics within the Greater Nadi and Lautoka Area to keep people with fevers away from vulnerable people who visit Health Centres and into separate, dedicated spaces specially designed to effectively identify possible COVID-19 cases.

The Ministry says they are more equipped than they have ever been to contain the spread of the virus together.