Specific applications to increase seating capacity at sporting events may be considered – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says if the Fiji National Sports Commission makes a specific application to the COVID 19 Risk Mitigation Task Force to increase the seating capacity at the sporting events from 50% to 75%, it may be considered.

Dr Fong made the comments after Sports Commission Chairman Peter Mazey said they are having talks with the COVID Taskforce team to increase the seating capacity and are also keeping in mind the Coca Cola Games in April.

However, Dr Fong also says the reason for many of our crowding and nightlife restrictions is based on the risk of the virus breaking through our quarantine borders.

He says currently we have rapidly increasing incoming travellers with more than 900 people in quarantine.

Dr Fong adds we have a few Pacific Island countries with outbreaks and we have variants evolving in places with poor control.

He says all these increases the risk of entry of the virus and crowding and nightlife make it very difficult to contain COVID-19 if we have a breach.