Fiji announced it was coronavirus free Friday after the island nation’s last known infected patient was given the all-clear, continuing the Pacific’s remarkable record of success against the virus.
Announcing it on Friday, Fiji’s health minister Ifereimi Waqainabete said that they will continue to prepare and work as hard as they can to avoid any other waves of the deadly virus.
He warned that Fijians should not let their guard down and health staff will remain vigilant.
“All the work that we are doing around COVID-19 continues and we want to reassure the nation that we will never drop our guard and we continue to be vigilant as ever as possible so that we can be on top of this.”
The minister said that all the doctors and nurses that were looking after the last three patients will now go through a period of self-isolation and guarantee.
More than 2,000 COVID-19 tests have been done in Fiji and so far 92 percent of the island nation’s population have been screened in the fever clinics. About 100 people are still in quarantine facilities.
Waqainabete said that the contact tracing app will help them in contact tracing as there were times that the health officials had difficulties in contact tracing.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama also confirmed this, saying that there have been no COVID-19 deaths in Fiji and the nation has recorded a 100 percent recovery rate through hard work and affirmation of science.
Fiji had a total of 18 COVID-19 patients since March 19 when its first COVID-19 case was confirmed.
The restrictions around COVID-19 such as the social gathering restrictions of 20 or less people and the nationwide curfew from 10:00 p.m.to 5:00 a.m. will remain in Fiji.
