Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed there are no COVID-19 cases detected in the Northern Division, and the containment zones established in response to this case are no longer in force.
This after it flagged a potential case of COVID-19 in the Northern Division yesterday after an individual residing in Labasa initially registered a weak positive COVID-19 test result for a sample tested at the Labasa hospital laboratory.
It stated that two retests of the same sample generated negative results at the same lab.
“While we suspected this was a false positive given the unusual nature of the tests results, we immediately took preventative action to cordon off the area in which the individual resided, as well as sections of Labasa Hospital,” the Ministry of Health stated.
“We also isolated the individual and quarantined and tested his close contacts. They have all since tested negative.”
The ministry stated that a repeat swab was taken for the gentleman, and it had also tested negative.
It stated that a swab taken two days before the weak positive swab had also tested negative at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
“The patient has never displayed any COVID-like symptoms. After consultations with our in-country experts and the WHO, we can confirm this was indeed a false positive test result, a rare occurrence that has been known to happen worldwide.
“We have protocols in place to identify these rare occurrences when they happen, and these protocols have functioned well in this case.”
