The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is advising the public against spreading false information and rumours that have recently been circulated about Novel Coronavirus in Fiji.
There are currently no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in Fiji.
They say a circulating rumour is that the Lautoka Hospital has a confirmed case of Coronavirus after medical staff were seen wearing personal protective equipment on Friday, 31st January.
The Health Ministry says the truth is that the Lautoka Hospital Novel Coronavirus Infection Contingency Plan was activated on Friday 31st January after a patient was reviewed by doctors in the emergency department.
The Ministry further says the contingency plan was activated as a precaution adding that after further investigations it was determined that the patient was not a suspected case of Coronavirus (the patient did not have respiratory symptoms or a relevant travel history) and the contingency plan was stood down.
The Ministry says the rapid activation of the Lautoka Hospital Novel Coronavirus Infection Contingency Plan 3 is an indication of the high level of alert that their health staff have for this new disease and the plans that are already in place to address it.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health says their health team at the Nadi Airport were informed by Fiji Airways prior to the landing of their Singapore-Nadi flight, FJ360 of a sick cabin crew member on board.
The Ministry of Health says upon landing, established disembarkation procedures for a sick passenger/crew were enacted, and the sick crew member was examined by our doctors.
They say the cabin crew member was assessed as not a suspected case of the Novel Coronavirus based on symptoms and absence of relevant travel history.
