Tui Nadi Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci says his people are strongly opposed to primary contacts of COVID-19 cases being relocated to Nadi from the Central Division because there is no guarantee another quarantine facility breach will not occur.
He said he was disappointed and could not understand the reasoning behind housing them in Nadi.
“I strongly oppose that idea,” he said. Ratu Vuniyani said there was no prior consultation by the relevant authorities.
“The feedback I have received from all the turaganikoro within the yavusa is of total rejection to the idea.
“We have been strictly observing all the relevant government directives pertaining to the current health crisis, however, we are strongly against the idea of relocating contacts of positive COVID-19 cases from the Central Division to Nadi.
“The first case started with Nadi and we tried and worked hard to contain the virus. “Now we suddenly have new cases from Korociri after going 14 days with no cases, and again we are trying to contain the virus.
“There is no guarantee that there won’t be any more breaches at any hotels in Nadi when they will be in quarantine.”
The local transmission of cases which numbered 258 yesterday began from a quarantine facility in Nadi when a soldier allegedly contracted the virus from the baggage of a couple who travelled from India.
A few days later a maid at the facility tested positive after reportedly interacting with the soldier while cleaning his room. Yet another soldier from another quarantine facility allegedly infected his wife when he visited their home in Makoi, kicking off the Makoi cluster.
He had interacted with the first soldier while on his way home.
The Makoi soldier also reportedly infected another local who had completed his 14-day quarantine period.
As of Monday, the Navy COVID-19 cluster had increased to 15. The Health Ministry said last week that primary or close contacts of cases that tested negative on their entry and fourth-day tests were to serve the rest of their 14-day quarantine in Nadi, insinuating a shortage of suitable accommodation sites in the Central Division.
And in response to earlier concerns expressed by the Tui Nawaka, FRIEND, and Nadi Chamber of Commerce, Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong said “national interest takes precedence during times of crisis”.
