Suva, Nausori and Lami are now in one big containment zone known as the Lami-Nausori containment zone.
The borders were lifted at 4 o'clock this morning following the announcement by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama late last night.
Bainimarama says this means that the containment zone will now be bordered at Wainadoi at one end and Logani at the other while all other perimeters will remain the same.
The new Lami-Nausori containment zone will remain under a 6pm until 4am curfew.
The Prime Minister says in the Lami-Nausori containment zone only essential businesses and businesses that meet the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport guidelines will be allowed to open.
He says business owners and managers will be accountable for ensuring that employees, customers, and visitors follow COVID-safe practices.
Bainimarama says the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport will announce a list of businesses that can resume work, including businesses that employ large numbers of people, businesses with strict overseas orders that must be filled, businesses that support socio-economic development, and some small businesses that support the most disadvantaged people in the country.
The Prime Minister says they have cut through the bureaucracy of securing approvals and get businesses that can operate within the ambit of our health restrictions open as soon and safely as possible.
He adds they will continue with consultations with various commercial and business organisations on specifics regarding some industries.
He stresses that in the Lami-Nausori zone high-risk businesses will remain closed.
Two new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Nadi.
There have been no cases in the Nadi area for 17 days and 20 days in Lautoka.
In an address to the nation this evening, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the good news is that they have excellent knowledge of the movements of these two persons and they will be able to establish a small locked down area in Korociri Settlement near Nawaka village where these cases are residents and stop the virus there.
He adds for now the establishment of specific locked areas and teams made up of Ministry of Health and Medical Services, RFMF and Fiji Police sweeping across suburbs and localities in high risk zones screening and swabbing will be a major part of the targeted surgical approach.
Nadi and Lautoka are now in one large containment zone.
Following the announcement by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Lomolomo border separating Nadi and Lautoka was removed at 4 o'clock this morning.
Bainimarama says this creates one large Nadi-Lautoka containment zone in which people will be able to travel freely to go to work or resume business.
He says businesses will be able to open as long as they adopt the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport guidelines.
High-risk businesses such as gyms, bars and grog shops will remain closed until further notice.
Bainimarama adds from next Saturday the borders at the Momi junction on the Sigatoka end of Nadi and at Nacilau, on the Ba end of Lautoka will also be removed.
He says the curfew hours for the Nadi-Lautoka containment zone will be from 8pm to 4am beginning today.
The Prime Minister says in the next 7 days, the Ministry of Health will carry out large screening and swabbing exercises within the one Nadi-Lautoka containment zone.
Some COVID-19 restrictions will start to ease in the Northern Division and maritime areas from today as there are no recorded cases of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says all businesses including what is deemed to be high-risk businesses such as hairdressing salons, gyms and billiard rooms will also be allowed to operate.
He says Fijians who wish to travel from Vanua Levu and the maritime areas can now return to Viti Levu by sea or air.
If you wish to do so please call 163 to register with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.
Bainimarama says travel will also be allowed from Viti Levu and containment zones to outside Viti Levu or non-containment zones but this will be subject to various protocols being met.
The Ministry of Health is currently working on these protocols and will announce the details within the next four days.
The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has highlighted if people do not get vaccinated, the economy will not reopen, people cannot go back to work or their businesses and resume life as normal.
Bainimarama says they will roll out a large vaccination drive in the Nadi-Lautoka Zone starting on Monday.
He says the Ministry of Health will also carry out a large screening and swabbing exercise within the one Nadi-Lautoka Containment Zone in the next 7-days.
The Prime Minister adds he knows that life has not been easy and many people understand the necessity of what needs to be done.
He is urging all Fijians to get registered and vaccinated so that they can protect themselves and their families.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
