COVID-19: 1 new case confirmed by PM taking the total to 18
3 Fijians recovered from COVID-19

COVID-19: 1 new case confirmed by PM taking the total to 18

3 Fijians recovered from COVID-19

By Vijay Narayan
20/04/2020
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama
Fiji has confirmed the 18th COVID-19 case.

  • Ban on social gatherings still stands.
  • 51-year-old woman from Ba
  • She returned from overseas
  • First tested on April 18th
  • She shares a home with three others who all tested negative
  • All have been placed in quarantine
  • Ba will not be on lockdown
  • 8pm-5am National curfew still stands
  • Three Fijians have recovered from COVID-19

Fiji has confirmed the 18th COVID-19 case after the positive test of a 51 year old woman from Ba who had earlier returned from the United States of America.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the woman was already in self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from the US.

She showed symptoms after the quarantine period.

The woman shares a house with 3 others.

Bainimarama says all the 3 have tested negative however they are also quarantined.

The patient returned from the US on the 22nd of March.

Bainimarama says the results of the woman’s test make it likely this patient has been carrying COVID-19 for weeks.

He says luckily, the contact tracing which began as soon as she was first tested on the 18th of April, identifies her as a low-risk transmitter.

He says they have traced and identified her other casual contacts and they have all been entered into compulsory home quarantine.

Bainimarama says mobile teams will be conducting a large-scale screening of the entire province.

He says as with Lautoka and Suva, public cooperation is vital to this effort.

He says if we don’t see sufficient numbers from these screenings, Ba will risk a total lockdown.

24-hour nationwide curfew not off the table - Bainimarama

POLICE-SM

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the possibility of a 24-hour nationwide curfew is not off the table, and the power to avoid that drastic alternative rests with every Fijian.

Bainimarama has told the people of Fiji to do the right thing today, and spare us suffering down the road. The Prime Minister says the 51 year old woman from Ba was certainly not the only unconfirmed coronavirus case in the country.

He says this virus is proving as stealthy as it is unpredictable, but it can be beaten.

Bainimarama says it can be beaten by keeping to the simple strategy of physical distancing. He says the difference of two metres of physical distance between us means the difference between victory and defeat in this campaign.

The Prime Minister says it means the difference between life and death for vulnerable Fijians. He also over the weekend, aside from dozens more arrests, they have received reports across the country of blatant violations of the physical distancing directives.

Bainimarama says too many Fijians are still behaving as if the virus isn’t among us. He says thank God, there are no deaths due to the virus in Fiji. But he says if people keep crowding in public places, gathering socially, or otherwise acting like these are normal times, there’s no question, we will lose lives.

Bainimarama says social gatherings are banned, and the 8pm to 5am curfew remains in effect. He says all of us should stay in our homes as much as possible.

If you see someone violating the directives, do not stay silent, pick up the phone and call 158 or call police.

He also says the government is introducing new health protection measures at hospitals nationwide.

He says only two visitors a day will be allowed to see a patient, and the visitation window will only be one hour.

Visitors will enter facilities one at a time and will need to be health-checked prior to entry.

The standing ban on visitations to isolation wards and facilities will continue.

Bainimarama says they will also be introducing compulsory testing for Fijians returning from overseas in government-funded quarantine after 14 days. If they test negative after the critical 14-day incubation period, they will be able to spend the remaining 14 days of their quarantine at home.

FEATURE NEWS
State trying to make out of court settlement deal with Malimali, about $2 million on the table for discussions
There are clear indications today after the application for leave for a judicial review by former FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali that the State ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Agriculture Ministry to focus on increasing kava, turmeric and dalo exports
The Ministry of Agriculture is working to boost export earnings by increasing production of key commodities such as kava, turmeric, taro, ginger, ...
2 minutes ago

This is a lollipop budget - Bala
This is not a people's budget, this is a lollipop budget—a sweetener served just in time for election year. This has been shared by Oppostion ...
24 minutes ago

Bia cheekily tells Seruiratu to provide alternative budget
While supporting the 2025/2026 National Budget Assistant Minister for Information, Aliki Bia responded to Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu by ...
39 minutes ago

Bridging the divide: building Pacific agency in the AI era
Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to be a powerful catalyst of social and economic development for Pacific Island countries. It has the potential ...
2 hours ago

Seruiratu says 40,000 Fijians left between 2022-2023, worsening skills shortage
Over 40,000 people leaving our shores between 2022 and 2023 has placed immense pressure on Fiji’s workforce. While opposing the 2025/2026 ...
2 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Professor Prasad on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on the 2025/2026 National Budget.
5 days ago

Tui Nayau and Tui Lau Installation
The ceremony for the installation of the Tui Nayau Sau ni Vanua o Lau will be held tomorrow, while the installation ceremony of the Tui Lau will be held in Tubou on Thursday.
7 days ago

CFL 40th Birthday
CFL’s 40th Anniversary celebrations to culminate with free concert at Albert Park on ...
10 days ago

TOP