A 66-year-old man is the first COVID-19 related death in Fiji.

A 66-year-old man is the first COVID-19 related death in Fiji.

The man died at the Lautoka Hospital yesterday, where he was in isolation.

He was Fiji’s first border quarantine case of COVID-19.

The man had returned to Fiji from India after receiving surgical treatment for long-standing cardiac condition.

Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says despite the best efforts of our health care professionals the man passed away due to complications from COVID-19.

Dr Waqainabete says the Ministry has expressed its condolences directly to the man’s family who they have been in contact with since his diagnosis.

The Minister stressed that it is important to note that the deceased contracted the virus while in India which is in the midst of a large scale outbreak of COVID-19.

“This is not the case for Fiji. Again the virus is not present in Fijian communities no is there any risk of infection among the Fijian public. Fiji is committed to repatriating our citizens from around the world because we have the confidence in the capacity to do so without the risking our status as a COVID contained country.”

Dr Waqainabete says Fiji knew how deadly this disease can be, prepared accordingly and have handled the situation in line with Infection Prevention Control Protocols.