We will find new cases of COVID-19 along the way that we would not expect – Dr. Fong

Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. James Fong stresses that we will find new cases of COVID-19 along the way that people would not expect.

While responding to questions as to how two new cases of the virus have emerged in Nadi after 14 days of no new case being reported, Dr. Fong says he knows people are puzzled but the surveillance system that they use is not full proof and this is the same for other countries in the world.

Dr. Fong says many countries have gone without any new case for a prolonged period of time and then they find a new case of COVID-19.

He says in many instances, other countries are finding new chains that were not previously recognised.

Dr. Fong says this is the way we are going to live for some time.

Dr. Fong says the two cases of COVID-19 in Nadi were identified because of escalated community surveillance program.

He says one of the cases from Nadi was accompanying someone who was going to get admitted in the hospital and this person was swabbed before going into the hospital.

The second case in Nadi was identified after the person's workplace did random sampling of their staff.