Minister for Health Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete says they have been alerted by the New Zealand Ministry of Health about a man who has contracted COVID-19 in New Zealand with a recent travel history to Fiji.
Dr. Waqainabete says after reaching out to the patient, the Ministry of Health has determined that he developed symptoms 2 days after arriving back into New Zealand.
The Health Minister says while it is unclear whether this person contracted the disease in Fiji or New Zealand, he did not display symptoms whilst in Fiji.
The Ministry is advising the public of his itinerary in Fiji because it takes 2 to 14 days for symptoms to develop.
He adds they need to diligently trace back the man’s movements in Fiji to see if there is any possibility he contracted the disease in Fiji.
Dr. Waqainabete says the person was at the Plantation Island Resort from March 11th to 13th and was also on the return ferry to Denarau from the Cloud-9 floating platform.
He says on the 15th of March, the man was at Dua Dua Resort in Rakiraki and had lunch at Tanoa Hotel in Rakiraki.
He is urging people if they were in these areas on those dates and are showing symptoms of COVID-19 to call the health toll free line 158 immediately.
The Health Minister says the man also stayed with relatives in Nadi.
The relatives have been in self-quarantine since the man left for NZ.
He is also urging Fijians to visit the fever clinics if they have fever or flu like symptoms.
