Fiji Sun

Two Fijians from Wuhan quarantine­d for 14 days at New Zealand military facility

- SHALVEEN CHAND Edited by Percy Kean

Two Fijians, who were in Wuhan in China, will be quarantine­d at a military facility in New Zealand for 14 days after arriving on an Air New Zealand flight evacuating people from China yesterday.

This was part of an operation to get people out of the coronaviru­s-affected China. Also on board were 54 New Zealand citizens, 44 New Zealand permanent residents on Chinese passports, 23 Australian citizens, 12 Australian permanent resident holders on Chinese passports, 17 from Timor

Leste, 17 from Papua New Guinea, eight from Britain, five Samoans, four Tongans, and one each from Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Uzbekistan and the Netherland­s.

New Zealand media reports said the passengers would be quarantine­d for 14 days except for those from Australia who would head to separate facilities.

In Fiji, two students remain in isolation at Nadi Hospital as the Ministry of Health awaits results of blood samples sent to Australia for tests regarding coronaviru­s. Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabet­e said it would take a week for the blood samples to be returned with results.

He said until then the two would remain in isolation at Nadi Hospital. Dr Waqainabet­e has also hit out at people spreading rumours regarding coronaviru­s. He said creating fear would not help the situation in Fiji.

He reiterated that the Ministry of Health had already rolled out its protocols at the country’s internatio­nal port of entries to contain the spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Health has also issued extra forms which would be part of the arrival forms to fill on board.So far there are no confirmed cases of coronaviru­s in Fiji.

 ?? Photo: Waisea Nasokia ?? Notice pasted on the door of the paying ward at the Nadi Hospital yesterday where two Fijians are kept in isolation.
Photo: Waisea Nasokia Notice pasted on the door of the paying ward at the Nadi Hospital yesterday where two Fijians are kept in isolation.

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