On November 4th, 2020 Fiji marked 200 days without any transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the community.
The Pacific nation confirmed its first case on March 19th, and as of November 4th, 2020, Fiji had recorded a total of 34 cases and two deaths.
Its last instance of transmission in the community was April 18th 2020. Early investment in testing capacity was crucial in helping the Pacific nation keep numbers low and prevent the virus’ transmission.
Around the time that the first case was confirmed in mid-March, Fiji’s molecular laboratory at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control had validated testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enabling Fiji to quickly test specimens, rather than sending them