Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says Fiji’s quarantine protocols to support international travel have been adjusted to take into account the increasing protection gained by having fully vaccinated persons travelling with other vaccinated persons to highly vaccinated destinations.
Dr Fong says this will involve less stringent conditions with more priority given to the testing protocols that ensure early identification and isolation of positive travellers.
He further says from today, they will be transitioning from Border Quarantine Protocols to Border Risk Reduction Protocol for all travellers coming in from Travel Partner Countries.
From today, incoming travel will be restricted to diplomats, returning Fiji residents, permit holders and those approved by the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce.
Dr Fong adds this will involve a 3 day stay in a hotel with a test to be done on day 2. A negative result will allow for discharge into the community on day 3.
Meanwhile the ABC reports that ten months after giving birth to her son in Melbourne, Farisha's parents will finally be able to meet their grandson as Fiji's international border reopens to Australia today.
Since Farisha's son is an Australian citizen, she had to apply for a special permit for him to travel to the country.
Farisha, who only wants to be known by her first name, said the reunion would be "a very happy moment".
COVID-19 travel restrictions barred Farisha and her family from travelling between Fiji and Australia and she says her relatives are "desperate" to see the pair.
Farisha says they are more excited to see her son than her.
She says for the past 10 months she has been looking after her son, staying home and she is eagerly waiting to come to Fiji.
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