Eleven positive rapid antigen tests for Covid-19 in Fiji's north had attended a recent sports tournament, health authorities said.
The Fiji Bitter Wairiki 7s rugby tournament on Taveuni. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lice Movono
Rapid antigen testing (RAT) is only available for people over 12, without symptoms, who are unvaccinated and require a test for travel.
If it is positive, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test will have to be taken as well.
According to health experts, RATs are generally taken with a nose swab and detect the presence of specific proteins on the outer portion of the virus, such as the spike protein.
This is different from the RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription - Polymerase Chain Reaction) test widely used in New Zealand which detects genetic material called RNA.
Six of the 11 tested in Fiji are from Taveuni, four in Tukavesi and one in Seaqaqa.
Health Secretary James Fong said the early detections are linked to the Fiji Bitter Wairiki Sports Carnival on Taveuni two weeks ago. The event also featured sevens rugby, netball and volleyball games.
"Our team has escalated our surveillance and contact tracing tests," Dr Fong said.
He urged people to continue to wear masks and to get swabbed if they have flu-like symptoms, such as a sore throat, headache and body ache.
According to the Health Ministry, RATs require a higher quantity of the virus to be present in the sample than other Covid-19 testing methods.
Permanent Secretary of Health, James Fong Photo: Fiji Govt
"As a result, RATs are less sensitive at detecting cases, especially in asymptomatic people or people who are early in their infectious period.
"A positive result in any RAT requires a confirmation test by RT-PCR swab undertaken by a healthcare professional."
Dr Fong also confirmed five new cases of Covid-19 in the community.
This brings the total number of active cases in isolation to 135.
Two Fijians had tested positive to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after returning home from Nigeria on 25 November.
Dr Fong has yet to confirm the status of the duo.
He also confirmed on Monday that nine patients are in serious condition in hospital.
Fiji has had 52,651 cases of Covid-19, with 52,581 from the latest outbreak that began in April this year.
There are no deaths to report with the toll at 697.
The Wairiki 7s Carnival on Taveuni. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lice Movono
Dr Fong said close to 92 percent of Fiji's adult population are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Dr Fong said 39,115 children aged 12-17 have also received both doses of the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Fiji Police said despite calls for the curfew restrictions to be eased, there will be no changes made to the Covid-19 safe measures.
Fijians have taken to social media urging the government to lift the ban - in place since March last year.
Most said that since Fiji has close to 92 percent full vaccination and its international borders open to tourists, many of the restrictions should be eased.
But Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said this is not necessarily the case.
"We haven't had any indication at all of any change to curfew hours.
"If there is somebody that will be able to give us a definite answer to that will be the Permanent Secretary for Health but we haven't received any indicators of that and the curfew hours remain the same."
Qiliho said Fiji's curfew hours will remain from midnight to 4am.