Govt will not impose stringent public health restrictions just because Fiji has some cases of COVID and measles – Health Minister

The Government will not impose stringent public health restrictions just because Fiji has some cases of COVID-19 and measles in recent weeks according to Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete.

With some people having tested positive for viruses that cause hand-foot and mouth disease, chicken pox and COVID-19, the Health Ministry is working with international partners in monitoring other micro-organisms that are becoming a threat to the people.

Doctor Waqainabete says some countries are battling an outbreak of measles or Monkeypox but Fiji is lucky to have safety protocols in place.

He says the people being investigated for hand-foot and mouth disease are stable and they are waiting for their results which were sent overseas.

Dr Waqainabete says there is also an ongoing battle between communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country.

According to the Health Ministry, 169 new COVID cases were reported since Thursday, while some have tested positive for viruses that cause hand-foot and mouth disease or chicken pox, which are diseases that also cause a rash similar to Monkeypox.