SUVA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's COVID-19 cases has increased to 17 with the latest reported case from Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island, while some restrictions in the capital city of Suva will be lifted from Friday morning.
Fiji's Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said in a televised speech on Thursday the patient is a 21-year-old who is a relative and travel companion of patient nine, the 54-year-old Labasa man who returned from India and Singapore and spread the virus to other family members who are still under isolation in Labasa, capital city of Vanua Levu, and Suva.
Bainimarama said this young man upon returning to Fiji was in self-quarantine for two full weeks, up until April 5.
Fiji's COVID-19 containment remains focused on three high-risk locales in Nabua settlement, Suva, the quarantine facilities in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city, and the Soasoa settlement and other areas in Vanua Levu.
Bainimarama said the first 16 patients living with COVID-19 are all in stable condition and they have widened testing to all close contacts of all confirmed cases and Fiji's Ministry of Health monitors them until they meet the full 28-day threshold.
He said this latest case has revealed the need for additional lockdown on Vanua Levu and the Vunicagi Settlement between Nabouwalu and Labasa will be locked down for the next 28 days.
Soasoa settlement as well will be extended for another 14 days, in line with Fiji's 28-day quarantine policy and given the continued risk of transmission on Vanua Levu, the ban on inter-island travel by air and sea will remain in effect.
Meanwhile, Bainimarama said 180,000 Fijians in Suva's confined area have been screened by mobile teams and at fever clinics - well beyond the target of 150,000, and an impressive two-thirds of the total population of Fiji's largest urban hub.
He said in total over 280,000 Fijians have been screened and though the Suva lockdown is being lifted, every other life-saving directive will remain in place.
The nationwide curfew remains as nightclubs, gyms, cinemas and pools stay closed. Public gatherings are not permitted. Physical distancing of two meters from all others should be maintained at all times.
Meanwhile schools in Fiji will not open until June 15.
Fiji reported its first confirmed case of the virus on March 19 .
The nationwide curfew in Fiji from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. every day has been implemented since March 30. Enditem
