The battle continues to contain COVID-19 cases in Kadavu, Malolo, Yasawa and Labasa

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the battle continues to contain COVID-19 cases in Kadavu, Malolo, Yasawa and Labasa.

Doctor Fong says they have confirmed 29 new cases on Kadavu adding to a total of 164 active cases reported on the island.

23 active cases remain on Malolo Island with investigations and further testing of contacts continuing.

Doctor Fong says they have dispatched a 55-member response team to Kadavu this week to assist with containment efforts on the island and offer treatment for those who develop severe disease.

In response to the situation in Malolo Island, they have deployed a public health team to rapidly map out a plan to contain the virus and also identify community members who are most at risk of severe disease.

For Somosomo Village in Naviti, Yasawa, they expect the impact to be more severe.

Doctor Fong says they will be deploying a team to Naviti this weekend to develop a plan to increase their capacity to provide critical care to patients, as well as put in place protective measures for those most vulnerable.

He says unfortunately, their investigations and deployment to Kadavu, Malolo and Naviti have been delayed due to bad weather conditions, however, over the coming days, they hope to see quick measures being placed in these new areas of concern.

In response to the cases reported in the Northern Division, the Namara Tiri Settlement has been placed on lockdown.

Checkpoints will be set up at the 2 road entry points into the settlement.

The first Labasa case is in stable condition and the members of their family have continued to test negative for the virus.

Doctor Fong says all primary contacts’ exit swabs have also returned negative.

60 primary contacts have been established for the three positive cases in Namara Tiri Labasa so far.

Doctor Fong says they have been swabbed and have returned negative results.

There are ongoing investigations to verify the final number of contacts.

Screening teams are sweeping the containment zone and have collected 84 total swabs. Screening and swabbing are also being conducted at vaccination sites and all health stations in the Labasa area.

He says their contact tracing teams have identified the places where the second COVID-19 case went, and because of this, they have placed restricted movement for the greater Labasa Town Area.

The reason for this is to reduce the risk of the virus spreading out of this area, as well as allowing time for the health teams to undertake screening of the local population.

Doctor Fong says they know that when applied and followed by the public, these strict containment measures are successful in reducing the spread and allow the health teams to identify and isolate people who may have been infected with the virus.

He says in the North, this will buy them the precious time needed to allow the vaccination teams to reach all eligible adults for vaccination, in particular those most at risk of severe disease.

The Permanent Secretary says they are also strengthening the network of Northern screening clinics and encourage anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms to visit one immediately.