75 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded for Qauia in Lami in the 24 hours to 8am yesterday and expect more cases as more tested positive throughout yesterday.
Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they have instituted a targeted containment programme for the community in Qauia.
He says they have relied on this tool many times through this outbreak and they have learned some important lessons about how they achieve success against this highly transmissible variant, particularly in how they limit transmission within containment zones.
While speaking directly to the families living in Qauia and other informal settlements that are under containment protocols, Doctor Fong says when you are still within your community, you must do your utmost to protect your bubbles and stay within your houses. He says many in your communities, including the elderly and those living with underlying health conditions, even some young people, could be killed by the virus.
Doctor Fong says they have to protect these Fijians, that is the Health Ministry’s mission and he calls on these communities to please make it yours as well.
He also says as soon as you step through the doors of your houses, you are at-risk of becoming infected.
Wear a mask or face covering, do not gather with others and the people who share your home are the only people with whom you should share close contact.
Doctor Fong says they cannot send authorities into every community every hour of the day to enforce those rules.
He says that responsibility rests with you, and the Ministry will play it’s role.
Doctor Fong says they will make sure the affected people are provided with groceries and household essentials.
He says none of us face easy choices in this outbreak but we obviously have to avoid any unnecessary loss of life.
The Permanent Secretary says they are counting on you and every Fijian to adopt COVID-safe behaviour, maintain that discipline and, when it is your turn, be vaccinated.
For those who do not reside in targeted containment areas, some people have asked Doctor Fong about the rules regarding outdoor exercise.
He says as the Fiji Police clarified this week, outdoor exercise is allowed so long as you wear a mask and only interact with members of your own household.
Doctor Fong says we can’t risk contact sports, we can’t risk any activity that puts people in close contact with others but we know that physical fitness is vitally important to keep ourselves healthy.
He says he also saw the footage of the brawl in Jittu Estate in Suva.
Doctor Fong says there were no winners of that fight except for the virus itself.
He says these outbursts of violence are never acceptable and they have never posed a greater risk to the wellbeing of our people than today.
Doctor Fong says if even one of the dozens involved in the altercation was carrying the virus, every member of that community was placed at risk, the officers involved in breaking up the fight were put at risk, as were their colleagues and members of their families.
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