Covid-19 tests

Fiji tests cases from African nations

Health Secretary Dr James Fong confirmed the cases of interest were Fijian nationals returning from Africa.

"In Fiji, we currently have Covid-positive travellers in quarantine who arrived in the country from African states before we knew about Omicron.

"They have been quarantined in line with the stringent measures we apply to countries we consider a red zone for ongoing viral spread. Their specimens will be forwarded this week overseas for genetic sequencing."

Aucklanders in seven suburbs told to get a test even without symptoms

Mt Eden, Massey, Māngere, Favona, Ōtara, Papatoetoe and Manurewa are under increased scrutiny by health officials because of their links to mystery cases or clusters that may have unexpected cases.

Counties Manukau District Health Board chief executive Margie Apa said it was most important they get tested if they had symptoms – but they also wanted people without symptoms to come forward.

After 3,000 covid tests, 11 more cases discovered

In a statement released late Wednesday night, Health Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong said the first six were related to the Vunimono/Nadali cluster and were in home isolation.

The other five are household contacts of a previous case who had been quarantined at a facility in Nausori and had tested negative when they were first admitted to the facility.

Covid-19: New test rule for UK arrivals from Friday

People arriving by plane, train or boat, including UK nationals, will have to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving the country they are in.

All those arriving from places not on the government's travel corridor list must still self-isolate for 10 days.

There are issues with testing availability and capacity, so some countries will initially be exempt.

For instance, the requirement will not apply to travellers from St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda for six days.

End of quarantine for batch of Samoa travellers

Chairman of the Center, Agafili Shem Leo, said more than 160 passengers from flights from New Zealand and Fiji on December 7 would need to have two negative final Covid-19 tests before they were released.

RNZ Pacific reports he also confirmed that 231 passengers on a flight from New Zealand 4 December had been released from quarantine last Friday, after all returning two negative covid tests.

Meanwhile a cargo flight from New Zealand which had been cancelled last Friday due to flooding at the airport arrived late on Saturday afternoon.

Athletes to be tested 'every 96-120 hours' during Olympics

During talks between the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Japanese government and Tokyo Metropolitan Government, further guidelines for how the Japanese capital plans to host the rearranged Games next year were discussed.

Current visitors to Japan need to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival but athletes and other key stakeholders arriving for the Games will be exempt from those restrictions.

More than 15,000 athletes are expected in Tokyo for the Olympics, which begin on July 23, with the majority staying at the purpose-built Athletes' Village.

Samoa's Covid-19 cases declared historical

A 23 year old sailor who had been working in Italy and a 70 year old man who had travelled from Australia had both produced mixed tests, including a positive result for the coronavirus.

They were on the same flight two weeks ago and both had contracted the virus in the countries they were in.

The sailor had been sick with the coronavirus in May and the older gentleman had it in August.

Fiji look to salvage rugby tour from Covid ruins

Over the weekend it was announced the Flying Fijians would have their third consecutive test match cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak in the squad.

The team's match game against Scotland, originally set for 29 November, has gone the way of two other matches.

Fiji's clash with Italy was supposed to be played on Saturday gone, but was called off after 29 members tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

A test against France was cancelled the week before as it became evident the virus was present among the touring party.

France to increase Covid-19 testing to 700,000 a week in lockdown exit strategy

The government had set itself a goal of carrying out at least 700,000 tests per week, he said. Once a person tests positive, tracing would begin to identify, test and isolate all those who had been in close contact with the individual.

"When we end the lockdown, we will have the capacity to massively scale up testing," Philippe said in an address to parliament.

He said the lockdown had saved tens of thousands of lives but that the time had come to ease the unprecedented peacetime restrictions and rescue an economy in free-fall.

Samoa waits for seven COVID-19 tests

The patients' samples have been sent to a laboratory in New Zealand for testing.

The government says the identity of the cases is confidential, despite the first suspected case - since proven negative - being identified in local media.

The ministry of health has urged people to respect the privacy and confidentiality of patients and to avoid stigmatising people who might be affected by Covid-19.