If you have symptoms or have had contact with a COVID-19 case stay home and isolate yourself from other family members - Dr Fong

With an indication by the Health Ministry of escalating levels of COVID infection in the community, the Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong is making it clear that you must isolate yourself from others if you have symptoms or if you have had contact with a COVID-19 case.

He stresses that for those in home isolation, you are to isolate yourself from others including other members of your household for at least 10 days.

Doctor Fong adds stay at home as much as possible and maintain a physical distance of 2 metres between yourself and other members of your household and wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth.

He further says drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol for pain and fever.

Doctor Fong adds most importantly, watch for severe COVID-19 symptoms.

He says severe COVID-19 is a medical emergency and a delay in receiving appropriate medical treatment reduces your chance of recovering from the disease.

The Permanent Secretary for Health adds you do not need to have a positive test result to watch out for these symptoms.

He says they need all Fijians to know the severe symptoms of COVID-19 which include the following: difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, severe headache for a few days, inability to stay awake, pale, gray or blue-coloured skin, lips, or nail beds.

Please call 158 or go to your nearest screening clinic for testing if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.