A patient at Lautoka Hospital who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday afternoon died a few hours later at 6:35pm, confirmed Fiji’s Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr James Fong today.

Lautoka Hospital is now in lockdown as part of efforts to prevent a wider outbreak.

“This is Fiji’s third reported death due to the coronavirus. And this is our first death for a person who had contracted the virus locally,” he said.

The 53-year-old patient, was initially admitted to the hospital on 19 April for a surgical procedure. He developed respiratory symptoms on 28 April and refused to be tested for COVID-19 twice. He was then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit after his condition began deteriorating yesterday.

Two doctors, who had treated the patient, had tested positive to COVID-19 on 4 May.

Health officials suspect the doctors caught the virus from the patient and not the other way around.

“We do not know when or where this patient contracted the virus. It could have been from outside or within the hospital. Our response must consider both possibilities.”

Dr Fong warned there are likely many more cases of the virus out there.

“Fiji, I do not use the word “war” lightly. But, right now, we are in a war with this virus and the frontline has just extended to Lautoka Hospital.”

“This will be the greatest test our healthcare system has ever faced – it will be a test for all of us. Lives are at stake, sacrifices must be made, and every Fijian’s commitment is needed. The virus is insidious, it is unrelenting.”

Lautoka Hospital lockdown

Lautoka Hospital is closed to the public with all medical services re-routed to a network of backup hospitals in Nadi, Ba, Sigatoka, and the Punjas and Kamikami health centres in Lautoka.

Dr Fong said it is now a tightly-contained, full-time COVID care facility.

“Given we expect more cases, and more severe cases. Sections within the Lautoka Hospital are being converted into intensive care units which will house additional beds and ventilators.”

More than 400 patients, doctors, nurses, and other staff have been sequestered to be quarantined in the hospital. Staff who left the hospital have also been called back.

“Those who are working will operate on high-alert, fully-equipped in the proper personal protective equipment. They will be screened regularly and tested often. We are going to provide them with any and all support that they need. Food, supplies, bedding, whatever they require, we will provide.”

Fiji’s military and police have ring-fenced the entire hospital to strictly manage entrance to the premises.

More COVID tests will be undertaken in the hostpital and around Lautoka.

Meanwhile, the patient who died was one of four new COVID-19 cases announced yesterday evening. Two are border quarantine cases - returning soldiers from tours of duty overseas, and a local 27-year-old who had been in quarantine since 28 April as a contact with a recent confirmed case.

As at 5 May, there are 39 active cases in isolation, including eight border quarantine cases, 28 local transmission, and three under investigation to determine the source of transmission.