If a significant proportion of the population is not protecting itself that puts everybody else in danger – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says they have asked Police to be on the watch out for people who are not following COVID safety guidelines such as gathering from different households to drink kava and not following social distancing and Police have been able to deal with some people who are not adhering to these guidelines.

Questions have been raised about people living in informal settlements and Public Rental flats like Mead Road Housing where some residents are gathering to drink kava, not wearing face masks and not adhering to social distancing and allowing their children to move around with other children in the neighbourhood.

Doctor Fong says if a significant proportion of the Fijian population is not protecting itself, that puts everyone else in danger.

He says they suspect they may not be able to get to every gathering and he presumes there must be ways that people gather without the authorities noticing.

Doctor Fong says they are hoping to vaccinate the vulnerable people who live close by.