Omicron will come into Fiji, we need to continue to have a vaccination plus COVID safe measures strategy – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they are monitoring the outbreak of the COVID-19 variant Omicron globally, and he should correct himself and say that Omicron will come into Fiji.

While wishing everyone in Fiji the joy and happiness of this festive season during his Christmas message, Doctor Fong says his advisories this week expressed his concern at the lack of adherence to COVID safe measures that are seen in many of our social gatherings both indoors and outdoors throughout Fiji.

Doctor Fong says we have to be vaccinated and continue to practice the COVID safe measures, and stresses that people should not only have a vaccine only strategy.

Meanwhile 48 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Fiji in the 24 hours ending at 8am yesterday.

Of the 48 cases, 36 cases were recorded in the Northern Division; 11 cases were recorded in the Western Division with 5 cases from border quarantine and 1 case recorded in the Central Division.

Doctor Fong says while cases will occur in the community in the North, the high vaccination coverage would mean that fewer people will develop the severe disease when compared to the outbreaks on Viti Levu.

He adds they know that those who remain unvaccinated and some people whose immune systems have not been able to develop a good response to the vaccines will still be at higher risk of severe disease.

The Permanent Secretary for Health says in response to the increase in cases in the North, the health teams with other Government agencies will work tirelessly to institute mitigation measures and prepare our health facilities should there be a rise in severe COVID-19 cases.

Fijivillage calls on people to adhere to the COVID safe measures and we continue to get reports of people not masking up in the vessels taking people to the North and returning to Viti Levu. We also continue to see people not masking up in public transport like buses.

We also call on those who are 18 years and above, please get your booster shots if you have passed the 5 months period from your second jab.