Suva on lockdown from today

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says all of the greater Suva area will be going on lockdown from 5am today for 14 days.

Bainimarama says this is a tactic that the government is embracing because it has proven effective in containing the spread of COVID-19.

He says they have drawn up the borders of a Suva confined area, and they will be closing off entry and exit from 5am today at the Delavanesi Bridge checkpoint on the Queen’s Highway, the Sawani Junction checkpoint, and the Rewa Bridge checkpoint.

The Prime Minister says within the greater Suva confined area, the greater public will not be allowed in or out, only those travelling for medical purposes will be allowed through checkpoints.

All non-essential businesses will be closed.

Bainimarama says supermarkets and shops selling food will remain open so that people can buy food.

Restaurants can remain open, so long as they cut seating capacity below 20 people, practice safe physical distancing between tables and at queues, and must focus on takeaway and delivery orders.

Banks and pharmacies will remain open.

Essential business will remain open.

Just like Lautoka, that list includes air and rescue services, air traffic control services, civil aviation, telecommunication services, food and sanitary manufacturing plants, electricity services, emergency services, fire services, health and hospital services, lighthouse services, meteorological services, mine pumping, ventilation and winding, sanitary services, supply and distribution of fuel and gas, power, telecommunications, garbage collection, transport services, water and sewage services, FNPF and FRCS, civil service, private security services and roading services.

Bainimarama says if your business is not on the list, close it down.

The Prime Minister says for civil servants, they should continue to go to work unless their Permanent Secretary has informed you to work from home.

Markets will remain open but they are decentralising markets into satellite markets to prevent dangerous overcrowding that spurs the spread of the virus; and given some Fijians need to seek specialised treatment at facilities in Suva, the checkpoints will allow these individuals who need to undergo surgery or receive kidney dialysis treatment.

In order to ensure residents in the greater Suva area can access life-sustaining services, the port of Suva will remain open for international freight shipping and inter-island cargo shipping; any passenger travel, however, remains forbidden.

The government will also implement the same Agriculture Marketing Authority arrangement they have introduced in the Lautoka confined area to get food and produce into the Suva confined area.

At all three checkpoints, suppliers can arrange with a police driver to ensure the produce still comes into Suva. The Prime Minister also says that food and essential goods will remain on the shelves of our shops and supermarkets.

He stresses to people not to run to the supermarkets and buy up goods this afternoon as doing so will crowd these stores and put every shopper at-risk.