If Fiji had a confirmed case of COVID-19 now we are ready to deal with it - Dr Waqainabete

Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says if Fiji had a confirmed case of COVID-19 now they are ready to deal with it as their preparation level has been heightened from the start.

Waqainabete says so far they have mobilised resources which includes isolation units in every hospital in the country and also isolation facilities in every division.

He says they are making sure that these units and facilities will deal with intensive cases that have been seen in other countries where there have been infections.

Waqainabete adds that there is also a strong focus on the training of health staff as every day they are learning something new about COVID-19.

Waqainabete says they have also made sure in their preparation plan that medicines and personal protective equipment are available and ready as much as possible.

The Health Minister says they also make sure that they are aware of what other countries have done and found to have halted the spread of the disease.

Waqainabete says some countries have gone as far as isolating cities.

He says God forbid if Fiji has a case, they may have to stop mass gatherings.

World Expert Says Countries Should Be Ready And The Elderly At Risk

As the world tries to deal with the rising number of cases of COVID-19, one of the world’s experts who led the fight against the SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus and Dean of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Gabriel Leung says health systems in countries need to be ready as COVID-19 spreads far more rapidly and the numbers can be exponential.

He also says the elderly aged more than 65 years are 20 times more likely to die from COVID-19 or the coronavirus.

Leung has told 60 Minutes Australia that about 40 to 60% of the world’s population could be affected by the virus and more than 45 million people could die around the world if proper controls are not put in place.

He says there is an emergency and rigorous infection control is needed.

Experts in Australia say they are already at the highest alert level.

Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete is calling on people to start taking the necessary precautions.

He says personal hygiene is very important as you have to keep washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your face especially your mouth, nose and eyes.

The Health Minister says isolation and containment is also very important as they had done during the measles campaign in Fiji.

Doctor Waqainabete says as the symptoms of coronavirus are very similar to many other respiratory illnesses, it is expected that with time the Ministry will investigate more persons with relevant travel history and symptoms related to coronavirus.

He stresses that although there are no confirmed cases in Fiji, people should also start taking precautions and stop shaking hands with people.

When asked on a lot of people having grog sessions in the country, people mixing the grog and sharing one bilo, Doctor Waqainabete says people should take the precautionary measures and be smart about things.

Qantas slashes services amid coronavirus travel downturn

Qantas says it will be reducing capacity by almost a quarter for the next six months due to fears over COVID-19.

ABC News reports eight of the airline's A380s will be grounded and two are already undergoing scheduled maintenance which leaves only two in service.

Qantas services to London will also be re-routed, flying via Perth instead of Singapore.

In a statement, the airline said the latest cuts follow the spread of the coronavirus into Europe and North America over the past fortnight, as well as its continued spread through Asia.

Qantas said the biggest reductions would be made to Asian routes, where travel demand is down 30 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Services to the US, UK and New Zealand will also decrease.

Qantas is slashing international capacity by 25 per cent, with CEO Alan Joyce to forgo his salary for the rest of the financial year to help the airline make it through. @DamoNews #9News pic.twitter.com/UDRgqp1Om5

— Nine News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) March 10, 2020

Jetstar will make significant cuts to its international network by suspending flights to Bangkok and reducing flights to Vietnam and Japan by almost half.

Both Qantas and Jetstar's domestic service reductions will be increased from 3 per cent to 5 per cent.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the past fortnight had seen a "sharp drop" in international bookings and warned there may be a need to make further cuts as the situation develops.

In addition to the service cuts, the Qantas chairman will take no fees and the Group CEO will take no salary for the remainder of the financial year.

The board will take a 30 per cent reduction in fees as will the executive management, and annual management bonuses have been set to zero.

Joyce said Qantas wanted to avoid job losses and asked staff to take paid leave where possible or consider unpaid leave as shifts diminish.

Qantas and Jetstar will waive change fees for new international bookings made from today until the end of March.

Almost 100 Australians have now tested positive for coronavirus, around half of them in NSW.