The daughter and wife of the Lautoka man who died because of COVID-19 on May 5 have returned home after 14 days in quarantine.
Priya Devi and her mother Manmeet Kumar were quarantined at the Nalagi Hotel in Nadi and were released last Friday.
“We are happy to be home, we were dropped off at the children’s park near the Lautoka Hospital and from there we found our way back home,” said Ms Devi. “We had three tests and all returned negative.”
Her father, Ramesh Kumar, died on May 5. “We had last seen him on April 19, the day he was admitted to the Lautoka Hospital.
“We weren’t allowed to see him, and after he underwent surgery … he was in ICU. “To this day I still don’t believe my father died of coronavirus.”
Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong earlier said case 125 (Mr Kumar) was admitted at the Lautoka Hospital on April 19 for a surgical procedure which was successfully done, but he developed respiratory symptoms on April 28.
He also said Mr Kumar transmitted the virus to a doctor who attended to him on April 29.
The family has begun preparing for Mr Kumar’s funeral.
“We were welcomed back by our community here and we will now slowly build our lives back.
“My father was the only breadwinner so right now we need all the support we can get.
“We have been told his body has been sealed off and he will be given to us in a coffin box that has to be taken straight to the cemetery.
“My dad’s younger brother in Tavua has agreed to come to Lautoka to do my father’s final rites and we are just awaiting clearance for him to enter the containment area.”
