Truck drivers taking food, fuel and freight to another containment area cannot come outside their trucks and have to follow strict guidelines - Dr Fong

Health Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong says if someone is moving from their source containment area to another area to deliver food, fuel and freight, they have to be from a low-risk area and these people will not be allowed to come out of their trucks.

When questioned on what measures are in place for those who are involved in bringing these items through trucks from one containment zone to another, Dr. Fong says truck drivers are not allowed to move out from their trucks and they also have to follow strict guidelines.

When further questioned whether the truck drivers will be told to isolate after returning from another containment area, Dr Fong says these people can continue working normally as they will not be allowed outside their trucks when they enter another containment area and these drivers also have to follow strict guidelines.

He says they have drafted standard operating procedures for the cartage of essential goods.

Within containment zones, the movement of food and essential items does not require approval.

He says drivers should, however, wear masks and regularly sanitise their hands.

They may carry one passenger to assist with deliveries.

This passenger should also wear a mask and maintain physical distance as much as possible while unloading goods.

Every single driver and passenger must have careFIJI downloaded, and it must be switched on for the entire time they are within a containment zone.

Dr. Fong further says between containment zones, it requires approval to transport food and essential items and requests for passes can be e-mailed to covidpassmoh@gmail.com.

Once approved, drivers must wear masks, regularly sanitise and keep a physical distance of two metres from others and careFIJI must be installed and on for their entire day of work.

While within the containment zone, the driver must not disembark the vehicle.

They should not even lower the windows. Loading and off-loading must be carried out by individuals at the delivery destination.