Fiji has confirmed one new case of COVID-19.
The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says this new case is a household member of the Lakena cases reported earlier, and he was already in isolation at Navua Hospital when he registered a positive result.
He says given his first test upon entering quarantine was negative, they do not view him as a high-risk case for wider transmission.
Dr. Fong further says since yesterday, they have been investigating the potential for further exposure of COVID-19 in the Fiji Centre for Disease Control.
Dr. Fong adds their medical and laboratory staff have not registered positive test results at this time, however, they are in the process of deep cleaning and decontaminating the centre in line with advice received from the reference laboratory in Melbourne.
He says as a result there will be no testing onsite for at least another 24 hours.
Dr Fong adds the Fiji CDC is where they process the vast majority of COVID-19 tests and says with the facility temporarily offline yesterday, the volume of their testing has decreased.
He says testing has continued at Tamavua Twomey Hospital, CWM Hospital, Labasa Hospital and Lautoka Hospital.
Dr Fong says they are focused on bringing it back online as soon and as safely as possible.
He also says regardless of the temporary lull they expect in swab processing, it remains vital that they use the next four days which is the Suva-Nausori lockdown period to identify and swab the contacts of existing cases in Suva and Nausori.
Dr. Fong says until they have a clearer idea of the extent of transmission in the Suva-Nausori area, the lockdown serves the dual purpose of putting a firm halt on further spread.
He says there may be community cases they do not know about.
Dr.Fong says if you are living in Suva or Nausori and you find yourself feeling unwell at any point through the next four days please call 158.
He assures people a team will visit you, or you may be referred to a screening clinic.
The Suva-Nausori lockdown period will start at 11pm tonight and will end at 4am on Wednesday the 19th of May.
