Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says if you are at higher risk of severe disease should you get infected with COVID-19, they strongly recommend that you continue to wear a mask in public, particularly in crowded indoor spaces.
He says the lifting of masking and other mandates and easing of travel restrictions is not a sign that the risk of outbreak and resurgence of COVID-19 is over.
Doctor Fong stresses that it is only a reflection of the Health Ministry's appreciation that all that can be done to engage the community to live safely with the risk of COVID-19 has been done.
He further says now that we have a high two-dose vaccination coverage, and booster doses have been readily available for months, they recognize that at some point everyone must take individual responsibility for keeping themselves safe with the measures that are available and known to be effective.
Doctor Fong adds they currently are recording low numbers of cases and admissions in hospitals.
He says they have not recorded a new COVID-19 death for an entire month.
The Permanent Secretary says they now leave it to you to assess your own level of risk and decide to continue to take measures such as masking and social distancing.
He adds they know wearing a mask in public will lower your risk of getting infected and it is now an individual choice that is recommended by the Ministry.
Doctor Fong says while they are now moving towards individual responsibility, they will keep in reserve the ability to reinstitute collective action in the future.
He adds that the unfortunate fact is, that while many in Fiji and around the world are tired of COVID-19, the virus is not yet tired of us.
Doctor Fong stresses that wishing it would go away will not make it a reality.
