We are trying to stop the movement of the virus, not to issue many passes for people to move from one zone to another – Dr Fong

Now everyone’s focus is how do they get a pass and they forget the fact that we are trying to stop the movement of the virus.

This was highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong when questioned on the number of people and vehicles that are coming in and going out of the containment zone borders in Lami, Suva, and Nausori.

Doctor Fong says this is the problem when they are trying to make something mandatory but everyone says they need to write in the law.

Doctor Fong says yesterday he was asked to write a check box on what people and businesses need to do in order to get a pass.

He says if he does give a check box, people will try and find a loophole to try and tick the check box.

Doctor Fong says recently they talked about some industries they will have to close because they are non-essential, but because they are manufacturing some medical equipment they will be given a dispensation to move around.

Please take note that any person in a containment zone in Lami, Suva, Nausori, Nadi, and Lautoka must not leave the containment zone they are in, with effect from 4am April 26th, 2021, unless authorised by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services.

This is clearly stated in the government gazette signed off by Doctor Fong.

Any person outside a containment zone must not enter another containment zone, with effect from 4am April 26th, unless authorised by the Permanent Secretary for Health and any person in a containment zone may only travel within the containment zone for the purposes of employment, accessing a service provided by an essential business, or an emergency.

According to Doctor Fong’s announcement on Sunday, that list includes air and rescue services, air traffic control services, ports services, civil aviation, telecommunications, 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, garbage collection, transport services, water and sewage services, FNPF and FRCS, civil service, private security services, and roading services.

Fijivillage stresses that you cannot just get a pass to cross the containment zone as it would defeat the purpose to have a containment zone to contain the virus if people are allowed to travel between one zone to the next.

According to the gazette, the Lami Containment Zone is from Wainadoi Police Post to Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge.

The Suva Containment Zone is from Tamavua-i-Wai Bridge to Wainibuku Bridge near Rups Nakasi.

The Nausori Containment Zone is from Wainibuku Bridge nears Rups Nakasi to Logani Village in Tailevu on Kings Highway.

The Lautoka Containment Zone is from Lomolomo Police Post to Nacilau.

The Nadi Containment Zone is from the junction of Queens Road from Momi Bay to Lomolomo.

Doctor James Fong stresses that people should not move from one zone to the next unless the ministry gives approval after a risk assessment.