Council calls on consumers and businesses to join the battle against COVID-19

Consumers must comply with COVID 19 safety protocols when out shopping by downloading and activating the careFIJI app, wearing face masks and practicing other safety measures which has been mandated by relevant authorities and being implemented by traders and service providers.

This has been emphasized by the Consumer Council of Fiji today after discovering cases whereby certain consumers were reluctant to adhere to these COVID safe measures before entering supermarkets.

Chief Executive, Seema Shandil has reminded Fijians of their consumer responsibility of solidarity – working together with the Government, health officials, security personnel and traders and service providers.

Shandil says the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has revealed that the latest two positive COVID 19 patients represent the highest-risk cases Fiji has ever contended with, therefore the responsibility of each consumer has now become more instrumental than ever.

She says they are reminding consumers that businesses have the right to ask consumers to show the careFIJI app on their smart phones and for consumers to wear personal protective equipment such as face masks in the lockdown areas.

She says they are also encouraging consumers to willingly comply to these and any other requirements as these are life saving measures.

Meanwhile, businesses are also being warned that they must not hike prices of essential items such as hand sanitizers, face masks and other personal protective equipment.

Shandil is also calling on the business community to retail lifesaving essentials such as personal protective equipment at affordable prices.

Last year they received close to 100 cases of price gouging by businesses after the first COVID 19 case was announced.

Shandil says they do not want to see history repeating itself where businesses use crisis to profiteer off the suffering of ordinary people.