The Health Ministry is working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen its quarantine operations.
Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says they will be enforcing the measures such as establishing a slot management system with Fiji Airways so they can put a cap on our quarantine capacity to more manageable levels, restricting international traveller entry to only fully vaccinated individuals (except in some emergency situations), requirement that all quarantine personnel engaged in quarantine operations are fully vaccinated and CCTV support and oversight increased.
Dr Fong says lapses in quarantine protocols present a risk globally during the pandemic.
He adds he has a specific team led by Dr Sam Fullman who together with a smaller military and police team will provide the leadership needed to strengthen the quarantine operations.
A border health protection facility has been established in the CAAF compound in Namaka, Nadi, and this facility will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing quarantine operations.
Dr Fong says as part of these measures they also want to create a no-blame environment where their quarantine teams feel safe from discrimination for reporting any breaches or if feeling unwell.
He adds at the end of the day, they can only work with lessons learnt and improve.
Dr Fong further says history has taught us many lessons, but the scale up required by this crisis has been phenomenal and we need to continue to adapt and learn as we respond.
The Health Ministry is also setting up a container laboratory in Namaka which has the capacity to process around 500 tests per day.
