18 January, 2026, 7:38 pm Central - 26°C Rain

Soldier may have contracted COVID-19 in the course of handling some baggage and interacting with two passengers – Dr Fong

Soldier may have contracted COVID-19 in the course of handling some baggage and interacting with two passengers – Dr Fong

By Naveel Krishant
21/04/2021
Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong [Image: Fijian Government]

The Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong says they feel the soldier may have contracted COVID-19 in the course of handling some baggage and interacting with two passengers who arrived from India on the 10th of April.

Dr Fong says the soldier had his appropriate personal protective equipment on but they feel that was the most likely touch point.

He adds this is based on the fact that he was able to transmit it to someone else and that it had to have harboured for a few days and then transmitted.

The Permanent Secretary also says the next touchpoint was when the lady was cleaning the room and the soldier walked in to put his stuff in the room.

Dr. Fong further adds the soldier stayed there for a bit of time and interacted with the lady.

He says the procedures at the border quarantine facilities do not need to change because what they have been doing is working.

Dr.Fong says what happened was there was a part of a procedure that was not adhered to and that was where the problem is.

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