Health Ministry awaits the results of another 4,000 swabs

The Health Ministry is awaiting results from another 4,000 swab samples undergoing testing in Australia.

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr. James Fong says the majority of samples in this second batch are from the containment areas of Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Nadi and Lautoka.

The results from 7,000 backlogged swab samples sent to Australia for testing have been received with all being negative except for one inconclusive sample from Lautoka that will be retested.

Dr Fong adds the high number of negative results is not unexpected as the majority of samples that were backlogged, and then shipped to Australia in this batch of 7,000, were from outside the containment areas, including a large number of samples from the Northern Division.