SUVA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Fiji reported on Wednesday two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 as the coronavirus is believed to have spread to many places in Fiji's main island of Viti Levu.
According to the Health Ministry, the two new COVID-19 cases brought Fiji's total tally to 111 since its first case was recorded on March 19 last year.
There are currently 44 active cases recorded in the Pacific island country, of which 18 are imported cases and 25 are locally transmitted. The new case reported in a 53-year-old man is under investigation on how he got infected.
The health ministry warned on Wednesday that the novel coronavirus is believed to have spread to many places in Viti Levu.
"We remain in a period of nationwide containment, but these two latest clusters indicate to us that this virus has spread to localities in several different areas of Viti Levu," said the health ministry's Permanent Secretary James Fong.
"These two weeks will define the next two months for Fiji, and we all need to behave like we have COVID-19, even if there are no known cases in our community or we are showing no symptoms of the virus. By doing so and thereby wearing masks, staying at home, and turning on your careFIJI app, you're saving lives," Fong noted.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday urged the Fijians to follow all COVID-19 advisories and take action immediately to safeguard themselves from the B1617 variant of COVID-19.
"It's not a matter that we can take lightly. It tells us that we need to be prepared ... It tells us that we need to ensure that we start our public health measures ... When we say stay at home, it means stay at home, when we say wear mask, it does mean wear mask," said WHO's Acting Representative to the South Pacific Akeem Ali.
The Fijian health ministry has confirmed that the B1617 variant of COVID-19 first detected in India was discovered in Fiji as it reported on Tuesday six more COVID-19 cases.
To contain the spread of COVID-19, Fiji announced on Sunday the 14-day containment zones in the Lami-Suva-Nausori area. For 14 days from 4:00 a.m. local time on Monday, the local residents are not allowed into or out of the containment zones.
Fiji has also maintained a nationwide curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time since March last year. Enditem
