Fijians may be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to Fiji from overseas - Dr. Waqainabete

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says Fijians may be required to self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to Fiji from overseas, even if they are not displaying symptoms of COVID-19.

Doctor Waqainabete says self isolation is to ensure that the person is in self isolation at home and will not become a threat to family members and others around them.

He stresses that this is a precautionary measure to be taken at the person’s home and people will be advised on the Health Ministry’s contact numbers if they do develop symptoms after leaving the airport.

There is another scenario.

Doctor Waqainabete says if any returning Fijian citizen shows symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 at the airport, they will be isolated at an allocated health isolation facility and tested for COVID-19.

The Health Minister says they already have secure isolation facilities up and running throughout Fiji, with the Central Division being served by Navua Hospital, the Western Division served by the Nadi Hospital, and Labasa Hospital serving the Northern Division.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says as we monitor the situation, more isolation units will be established as the need arises in accordance with their expansion plan.

 These measures will all be subject to review as the global situation evolves.

The government is also highly discouraging all Fijians from travelling overseas.

 Fiji remains coronavirus-free.

Bainimarama confirms that if and when we see our first case, far more stringent measures will immediately come into effect to aggressively prevent the spread of the disease, as other nations have done, such as bans on local gatherings.

 The single most important thing anyone can do is to wash your hands with soap and water on a regular basis. The combination of soap and water kills COVID-19 dead in its tracks.

Bainimarama says a thorough and effective handwashing takes 20 seconds and with this simple act, you may very well be saving a life.

He also we will also need to break the habit of shaking hands, hugging and sharing takis and bilos. Instead, simply share a “bula” from a safe distance and limit in-person contact as much as possible.