Police await more medical statements in the investigation of Fiji’s first COVID-19 patient

Police are still waiting for more medical statements before proceeding in the investigation of the 27-year-old flight attendant from Lautoka who was Fiji’s first COVID-19 patient.

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho says after the patient was cleared of COVID-19 by medical authorities and completed his second mandatory quarantine isolation, he was questioned and released.

Qiliho says investigations were earlier put on hold regarding claims that the flight attendant had given false information to officials about his health status as investigators awaited medical clearance.

The man had travel history to the USA and New Zealand and allegedly spread COVID-19 to a few people in Fiji.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete had earlier stated that the first patient had allegedly gone out to party in San Francisco, stayed with family there, also went around San Francisco, and was also coughing while wearing a mask and serving passengers on the New Zealand flight from Nadi.

Fiji had 18 cases of COVID-19, 15 patients have recovered and 3 are still admitted in isolation facilities.

According to the Public Health Amendment Act, a person faces upto $10,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment or both, for breaching the self-quarantine directives.