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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Two sailors who arrived in Fiji on a freighter from Tonga last week tested positive for Covid-19.
The Health Ministry said the ship arrived in Lautoka on December 2 to deliver cargo and then headed to Suva.
Health Secretary Dr. James Fong said the two sailors were under strict quarantine measures.
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Twenty-five locals, including the ship’s local agents, staff from the Biosafety Authority, the Ports and Customs Authority were also in quarantine.
The two sailors had not yet been classified as border Covid-19 cases “because officials are awaiting information on whether they tested positive for the virus in another country,” Fong said.
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The freighter with the sailors on board arrived from Tonga and delivered cargo to Lautoka before heading to Suva. The two sailors and the 25 contacts are in quarantine.
The information that the Ministry of Health had so far was that none of the crew left the ship in Tonga.
the MV Island Chief had come to Nuku’alofa from New Zealand, Fong said.
“During that time in New Zealand, the ship underwent a crew change, in which individuals from other countries were transported.
“Our current information is that the entire crew underwent a 14-day quarantine before the ship left.
“The two crew members who tested positive have been hygienically transferred to Navua Hospital and will remain in the isolation room.”
The remaining crew members were quarantined on the ship under heavy police surveillance, Fong said.
“No member of the crew on board the MV Island Chief had disembarked from the ship. “
How the cases were detected
Fong said the ship was scheduled to leave for Samoa.
In accordance with Samoa’s entry requirements, the crew underwent a Covid-19 test.
A team from the Ministry of Health wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment boarded the ship and collected samples for testing from the 12 crew members, Fong said.
“As a result of this test, two members of the crew of the MV Island Chief have tested positive for Covid-19.
“The first sailor tested positive twice on December 4 and 6. The second member of the crew tested negative on December 4 and then positive on December 6.”
Every precaution was being taken to ensure there were no threats to the public, Fong said.
There was also a situation where the ministry was taking precautionary measures in Lautoka and Suva, Fong said, but did not confirm reports on social media about an alleged closure of the city of Lautoka.
An email had claimed that the port of Lautoka had been quarantined.
Fiji now has 11 active cases of Covid-19, with nine in border quarantine.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
