2 COVID-19 clusters in Ra are still unlinked to other existing cases

The two COVID-19 clusters in Ra are still unlinked to other existing cases while a call has also been made to those that played in the Malomalo 7s in Sigatoka on April 16th and 17th to call 158 as one of the Makoi cases had played in that tournament.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says Suva and Nausori are not the only source points of their contact tracing efforts.

He says for Ra, they are pursuing two main leads - one is that the cases are related directly to the quarantine facility breach in Nadi or two, that these cases may be rippling out from an individual in Ra who attended the funeral in Tavakubu.

If you are this person, or you know this person, please contact the Health Ministry on 158.

Doctor Fong says they are also awaiting the results from Melbourne to confirm a genetic link to other local cases in Fiji.

He hopes that guides their investigation to a link with another chain of transmission.

But he says we need widespread adoption of the COVID-safe health habits, not only for a weekend, a week, or even a month - these measures must be kept by everyone, everywhere for the foreseeable future.

Doctor Fong also says one of the source points stems from case number 91, the patient who resides in Makoi.

Her brother-in-law, who was case number 98, played rugby in a team that competed in the Malomalo 7s at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on April 16th and 17th.

Working with the coaches at the tournament, the ministry has contacted most of those he may have had contact with however, there are still some missing pieces.

Doctor Fong says they are asking any of the rugby players who played in the Malomalo 7s, who are yet to be contacted by the ministry, to please call 158.

He also cautions everyone not to be too quick to ask why we have more stringent measures in Fiji than in other countries.

The Permanent Secretary says the simple reason is that all countries are at different stages in fighting this pandemic, and each country has to adopt measures based on its own situation.

He says in the United States, for example, more than 100 million adults have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That is 40% of the adult population.

Doctor Fong says we are not at that point in our immunizations here in Fiji, and we won’t be for some time.

He says with any variant of the virus, that is a recipe for deadly disaster, and it can happen here if we become complacent, or worse, cynical, about these very important prevention measures.