Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they are concerned about recurring incidents of people violating established protocols designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after confirmation that a man travelled from Naitasiri to have a grog session in Tavua Village.
The individual travelled from Naitasiri and had a grog session with acquaintances in Tavua Village.
Doctor Fong says with the support of the Tui Tavua, they have facilitated a lockdown of Tavua Village for an initial 4 days.
They will screen all contacts and then plan a more targeted lockdown area in the village.
The Health Ministry applauds the strong leadership of the Tui Tavua and other community leaders who are helping to rapidly escalate necessary public health containment measures.
The Permanent Secretary says the support of all communities, outside or within containment zones, through the promotion and enforcement of COVID-safe behaviour is vital for our national effort to stop the spread of this virus.
He says they know that this is not an isolated case of social gathering behaviour that is prolonging the COVID-19 outbreak in Fiji by allowing the virus to move further into our communities.
Doctor Fong says the non-containment zones are still at risk of being breached.
He says Fijians living in non-containment areas must also act as if the virus is already in their communities by avoiding social gatherings and observing the COVID safe protocols and guidelines they have issued.
Doctor Fong says these breaches are potentially dangerous and endanger the health and lives of all Fijians.
Meanwhile after thorough decontamination following some cases among staff in the Incident Management Team Warehouse, the warehouse facility has been fully re-opened allowing for a complete supply chain of essential items for our frontline officials.
