Minister for Commerce and Trade, Faiyaz Koya says as of 8th January 2022, they have issued approximately 48 Public Health Infringement Notices to businesses who failed to comply with regulated COVID measures and they have closed more than 5 businesses for operating without a permit.
Koya also says out of the 48 fixed COVID penalties, 32 are business related.
While speaking during the MSME Policy Dialogue, Koya highlighted that through the COVID Safe Ambassador programme, they have monitored more than 6,000 businesses around Fiji.
He also says 62 percent of high risk businesses inspected do not use the Vax-Check tool to verify customer’s vaccination status before allowing them into their premises, 41 percent of businesses do not practice temperature check at their business entrance, 35 percent of businesses do not sanitise their customers before entering the premises and 43 percent of the businesses do not check their patrons for the careFIJI app.
Koya further says the Government has worked hard to develop protocols and rules, which will enable businesses to continue, but they are not seeing the commitment from the business community.
He adds we all must remember that we cannot operate in the same way we did pre-COVID.
Koya further highlighted that these protocols will remain in place until they are completely sure of COVID-19 and its variants are no longer a threat.
