NEWS

COVID-19: Fiji Records 2 New Cases, Suva Now A Confined Area From 5 am Tomorrow

From tomorrow night, the 3rd of April, our nationwide curfew will now begin earlier, starting at 8pm and extending until 5am. If you’re travelling for work or as a result of a medical emergency, you can travel during these hours. Otherwise, don’t add your name to the ever-growing list of violators.
02 Apr 2020 16:27
COVID-19: Fiji Records 2 New Cases, Suva Now A Confined Area From 5 am Tomorrow

A 21-year-old woman and her 33-year-old husband are the two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Fiji.

The couple lives in a settlement in Nabua.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said: “The two individuals are a couple living together in the Nabua Settlement in Suva. The sixth patient –– the 21-year-old wife –– developed symptoms on Saturday, the 28th of March. She informed the Ministry of Health on the 1st of April. Our teams visited her home, and tested her that same day. Her partner, the 33-year-old husband reported symptoms on the 31st of March. He was tested the same day as his wife. Developed symptoms on Saturday”

Both are in stable condition at the Navua Hospital.

As a result the greater Suva area will now be in lockdown for the next 14 days.

Mr Bainimarama outlined the following: “That is why, just as we did in the Lautoka confined area, all of the greater Suva area will be going on lockdown –– a tactic that we’re embracing because it has proven effective in containing the spread. We’ve drawn up the borders of a Suva confined area –– as you can see on the map behind me. For a period of 14 days, we’ll be closing off the entry and exit at the following checkpoints, starting from 5 am tomorrow morning, the 3rd of April: the Delavanesi Bridge on the Queen’s Road, the Saweni Junction, and the Nausori Bridge.”

  • The greater public will not be allowed in or out –– only those traveling for medical purposes will be allowed through checkpoints.
  • All non-essential businesses will be closed.
  • 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 will remain open so that people can get money.
  • Pharmacies will remain open so that people can get medicine.
  • FNPF will remain open so that people can access funds.
  • The 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. If your business is not on this list, close it down. As for civil servants, continue to go to work unless your Permanent Secretary has informed you to work from home.
  • Markets will remain open with an increasing number of decentralised markets into satellite markets to prevent the sort of 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 addition, there is a ban on all social gatherings.  Interaction should be limited to those already in your household.

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