Expect to be Swabbed for COVID-19, Lautoka Patients Advised

Lautoka residents, who visit the three emergency health facilities, set up as a result of the Lautoka Hospital lockdown, should expect to be swabbed for COVID-19.

Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Jemesa Tudravu, called on people to cooperate with health authorities because this is part of the ministry’s investigation protocol

The three health facilities have been activated and operating 24/7 since Wednesday night. They are the Kamikamica Health Centre, Punjas Health Centre and Viseisei Health Centre.

The Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) was also activated and moved on Wednesday night to support delivery service at the Lautoka Hospital. Dr Tudravu said pregnant mothers, who need medical care, should visit the Viseisei Health Centre.

Screening clinics

“For the rest of Fiji our response effort continues,” he said, adding that 58 screening clinics had been operating in the past 24 hours since Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, 4598 Fijians had been screened and 626 were swabbed bringing the total to 34,926 individuals who have been screened and 6262 people swabbed. Mobile community screening efforts also continues throughout Fiji. Within 24 hours from Tuesday, the ministry screened 21,398 individuals and swabbed 1212 individuals. So far a total of 243,548 Fijians have been screened and 7278 swabbed.

“Our targeted mass screening continues, near 100 per cent in the target areas of the Central and Western Divisions. Our follow up with our quarantine discharges is now at 98 per cent,” Dr Tudravu said. “We have 13 community isolation facilities that remain open and currently occupied by positive cases and looked after by the Ministry of Health team supported by the RFMF team in the facilities. “Our quarantine facilities continues. As we discharge positive cases we also discharge their contacts who are at the quarantine facilities.”

Reiterating the need to practise COVID-safe measures, Dr Tudravu said people should adopt them as habits.

“Wash hands regularly, social distance, wear a mask and practise correct cough and sneeze etiquette,” he said.

“Stay home if you don’t have to access essential service and as you know the virus moves when you move.

“Download the careFIJI app now and activate it. Get vaccinated when the opportunity arises and in this trying times be kind the virus is the enemy not the person.”