REPUBLIC
OF NAURU
Government
Information Office
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
by
His
Excellency President Lionel Aingimea
Saturday,
9 May 2020
President Lionel Aingimea has
addressed speculation circulating in relation to an incident of
flight crew from a freighter plane testing positive for
coronavirus.
On Friday, 8 May, around 6.30pm a
freighter plane landed with five crew members. The crew did not
disembark however health officials boarded the plane to conduct
routine health screening at the front of the plane in the galley.
The health screening includes questions for symptoms, a temperature
check, observation for other signs such as tiredness, as well as a
rapid diagnostic test for antibodies against
coronavirus.
As a result, one of the members of the
crew had a positive rapid coronavirus test. A positive rapid test
indicates that the person has likely been infected at some
time.
However, these rapid tests are not as
accurate as the proper lab tests and the rapid test does not tell
us when a person was infected or whether they are still
contagious.
A formal laboratory test is needed
which will clarify whether a person is still carrying the virus or
whether they have cleared the infection.
Regardless, the plane, its crew and
remaining cargo were swiftly returned to Brisbane as advised by
health travel restrictions under such circumstances.
A joint decision and measures were
consequently made by the Deputy Secretary for Health Dr Ola Ajayi,
Director for Public Health Stacey Cain and the head of the Nauru
Coronavirus Taskforce Dr Kieren Keke, to immediately stop further
unloading of cargo, ground staff advised to refrain from making
contact with the crew, and the three health officials moved to an
isolation area within the airport and subsequently placed in
isolation at the Meneñ Hotel. No other person was in contact with
the crew.
Initial discovery of this result is
indication that Nauru's capture and contain policy is working very
well.
Some cargo in the lower cargo hold of
the plane had already been unloaded and deemed safe.
President Aingimea said as this
particular crew member did not show any signs or symptoms is
initial indication of a strong immune system that is able to fight
back the virus, but confirms further testing in Brisbane will be
undertaken.
The President underscored that
Queensland health received the crew but "didn't panic", instead
advised the crew go into self-isolation and await further testing
on Monday in Brisbane.
On arrival into Brisbane, the plane
and its cargo were disinfected and cleared to resume flights. Nauru
Airlines is making arrangements to bring back the remaining cargo
either on Sunday or Monday.
The President adds this is not the
time to panic, blame others or hurl abuse. Instead encourages
support and to seek spiritual guidance for Nauru and other
countries that are seriously affected.
"Your government asks, let's get
together to basically make a positive impact [in our] fight against
coronavirus."
President Aingimea expressed sincere
thanks to Australian Border Force (ABF) and Queensland health
authorities for accepting Nauru's request to allow Nauru Airlines
to return with the crew and cargo on board.
Additionally, the President stated
that leading health journals and the World Health Organisation
(WHO) have recently suggested a shift in quarantine procedures,
which proposes Nauru could begin moving from the prescribed
quarantine time and into lab testing.
President Aingimea said Nauru is
moving progressively in the right direction and the government will
be rolling out the Response Plan next week that will set the
direction regarding COVID-19; further stating that Nauru already
has testing facilities, and lab technicians undergoing training on
the test machine, with the possibility of being able to commence
testing next week, "shows us we're moving in the right
direction."
The President once again assures the
Nauruan public there is no case of coronavirus on Nauru and the
government will continue its capture and contain policy.
ENDS///
Issued by:
Nauru
Government Information Office, Republic of NAURU
Ph: +(674)
557 3009 E: gio.nauru@gmail.com /
naurugovinfo@gmail.com /
www.naurugov.nr