Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong confirms that the initial tests for all 21 officials from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Fiji Ports Limited, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, agents for the cargo vessel MV Island Chief, have all returned negative for COVID-19.
Doctor Fong says all the COVID measures continue.
He had earlier said that they have looked at the immediate contacts of the 21 people and quarantined them, and are now looking at the immediate contacts of this group.
He says their teams are out in the field making sure the immediate contacts of the group are COVID-19 safe by testing them and putting them in home quarantine.
Doctor Fong says their response will always be proportionate and measured to ensure that the risk is minimal.
The Permanent Secretary is urging everyone to be COVID-19 ready as we enter the festive season.
He has also clarified that a lockdown is always an option in every risk situation when dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Fong says one of the reasons why he did not want to speak too early after the recent COVID cases is because the Ministry would want to clarify the situation first before going public.
He says people must understand when they are trying to clarify things about the situation they are also protecting the people and people sometimes make up their own interpretation when they see their team conducting this in communities.
Meanwhile, two crew members of the cargo ship MV Island Chief that arrived in Fiji on 2nd December have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation at the Navua Hospital.
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