Fiji

The cases, all from Nausori, north of the capital Suva are believed to have been infected via a case from Makoi.

Makoi has been the site of multiple infections since the second wave of the pandemic began in the country last month.

With the Fiji Centre for Disease Control now operational following several days of closure when some of its staff tested positive, testing is expected to churn out more positive cases.

Health Secretary Dr James Fong said a high volume of swab results from primary and secondary contacts of existing cases would be processed.

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong said the 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.

“Given his first test upon entering quarantine was negative, we do not view him as a high-risk case for wider transmission.”

At a press conference this evening, Dr Fong said since yesterday, they have been investigating the potential for further exposure of COVID-19 in the Fiji CDC.

A 24-hour curfew will come into effect for Suva and Nausori from 11pm Friday to 4am Tuesday.

Fiji's FBC news reports three of the new cases are co-workers of a staff member of Extra Supermarket, who had tested positive yesterday.

The supermarket has been closed for decontamination purposes while the ministry awaits the test results from the remaining staff and management.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said all of the cases are from Makoi outside Suva.

They are close contacts of the woman who presented to the Makoi Health Centre yesterday with COVID symptoms.

“Four of our positive patients are her household members, seven are from an adjoining home, and one is a secondary contact. All have been entered into isolation.

Dr Fong said 2217 tests were conducted yesterday.

Last night the Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong announced that a woman from Makoi, outside Suva presented herself at a health centre yesterday with COVID symptoms.

“We’ll be treating this as another case of community transmission until proven otherwise. The contact tracing, testing and isolation protocols are currently activated and the centre is closed for now. Due to the steadily rising number of cases across Viti Levu, the borders of all six containment areas Lautoka, Nadi, Rakiraki, Lami, Suva and Nausori are being maintained.”

The Flying Fijians will now play two tests against the All Blacks on 10 and 17 July after their home series against Ireland was cancelled because of Covid-19.

Fiji have played New Zealand nine previous occasions, including five tests, the last of which was a 60-14 defeat in Dunedin a decade ago.

As previously confirmed by RNZ Pacific, the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier between Samoa and Tonga will be played in New Zealand over two legs.

As the government works to roll out newly received AstraZeneca vaccines, it has issued renewed calls for the public to remain at home.

Health Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said continued increases in cases which can't be tracked means containment zones will remain.

"The confirmation of cases of unknown origin, in particular, indicates the virus could still be present in all six areas, so the borders must be enforced, as must the other restrictions we have in place," Dr Fong said.

"When the data tells us to proceed in a different direction -- we'll tell you."

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong said all the cases are linked to a man from Saru, Lautoka who presented with COVID-like symptoms to the Natabua Health Centre and tested positive on Friday.

One of the new cases is his wife, another is his daughter, and the third was a primary contact of his wife.

All three have been in isolation since Saturday.

The contact tracers are locating and quarantining their close contacts.

All other known primary contacts relating to the three have tested negative.

Health Secretary Dr James Fong announced last night that the latest cases are all linked to case number 136, the man from Saru, Lautoka, who showed Covid-like symptoms when he visited the Natabua Health centre.

Fong said the man was one of seven people who had tested positive to the virus last Friday.

"One of the new cases is his wife, another is his daughter, and the third was a primary contact of his wife," he said.

"All three have been in isolation since Saturday.

"The contact tracers are locating and quarantining their close contacts.

The cases are in Lautoka and Nadi in the west of the main island, Viti Levu, and the settlement of Makoi, near the capital Suva.

The permanent secretary of health, James Fong, urged people to stay home.

"The virus is very much present in the community," Dr Fong said.

At a news conference late on Friday night, he said people should assume there is Covid-19 in the community, with cases of unknown origin rising daily.

The government has also announced that it is taking over several hotels in Suva to use as quarantine facilities.