First case defied instructions, says minister

THE 27-year-old flight attendant who was Fiji’s first COVID-19 case had defied strict instructions by Fiji Airways not to leave his hotel room while in San Francisco, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete told Parliament in his response to the

COVID-19 Response Budget.

He said the flight attendant had left his hotel to party and did not return.

“He stayed with family despite strict instructions that they stay in the hotel and not venture out,” he said.

“He then went to a market somewhere with his family and friends when he was told to stay in the hotel until his departure, like the other crew did.”

He said the first patient “disregarded all instructions and company policies”.

“We have people who flew on the flight with him to New Zealand who are calling us back and telling us that he was wearing a mask and coughing.

“Now the Government did not bring coronavirus into this nation. It is a person just like the South Korean woman who went into China and came back.”

He told Parliament yesterday that Government had not brought in the virus, and it was the responsibility of individuals that when they entered the country, to make a declaration whether they had a fever, cough or difficulty in breathing.

“It is a statutory declaration and you must be truthful in your declaration.

“We have a responsible imported case and we have a case which was irresponsible and responsible for 300 people who we have had to contact and find out where they are and whether they have been infected or not.”