The lockdown of the confined Suva area will be lifted by 5 am tomorrow after a successful screening of around 180,000 Fijians today.

This good news was delivered by the honourable Prime Minister today.

Even though the Suva lockdown is lifted, every other life-saving directive still remains in place, including the nationwide curfew from 8 pm to 5 am.

“Nightclubs stay closed. Gyms stay closed. Cinemas stay closed. Pools stay closed. Public gatherings are not permitted.

“Physical distancing of two metres from all others should be maintained at all times. The end of the lockdown is not a cause for celebration.

“It is not a reason to have large grog sessions or drinking parties. It is not a justification to stay out past 8 pm. It is not an excuse to leave your homes for no good reason,” he said.

The Prime Minister has warned every would-be lawbreaker that they will be arrested if they flout any of these measures.

“So, even though the Suva lockdown will be lifted tomorrow morning at 5 am, I want today’s main takeaway to be that every other health protection measure remains in effect and will be enforced. Every would-be law-breaker can bet that they will be arrested and they will be charged if they flout any of these measures,” he said

The coronavirus remains focussed on our three high-risk locales: The Nabua settlement in Suva, the quarantine facilities in Nadi, and the Soasoa settlement and other areas in the North.

Nabua settlement:

The Nabua settlement, however, the site of two coronavirus cases, is still a high-risk region and will remain under lockdown for an additional 14 days.

“Given how long this virus has proven it can stay dormant, the Nabua settlement will remain locked down for an additional 14 days,” the Prime Minister said.

Additional lockdowns in Vanualevu:

The contact tracing stemming from this latest case has revealed the need for additional lockdowns on Vanua Levu.

The Vunicagi Settlement between Nabowalu and Labasa will be locked down for the next 28 days.

The settlement lies along a short stretch of vital highway which vehicles will still be allowed to traverse under 24/7 police monitoring, as no alternate routes into Labasa exist.

However, no passengers will be allowed to disembark or embark: No one in and no one out.

Soasoa settlement:
The lockdown of the Soasoa settlement will be extended another 14 days, in line with the 28-day quarantine policy.

Given the continued risk of transmission on Vanua Levu, the ban on inter-island travel by air and sea will remain in effect.

Quarantine Period To Be 28 Days

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today announced another state of natural disaster in response to the coronavirus threat.

The quarantine period has been now extended to a full 28 days.

This is a result of case 17 showing symptoms after the initial 14 days mandatory isolation period.

“The disease cannot move if its carrier doesn’t –– so while there is no medical cure, time and distance are two sure-fire ways to put a stop to its transmission,” the Prime Minister said.

“But as we have seen, the time that is needed to ensure it cannot be spread can be far longer than the world first thought. And it’s why we are now extending the quarantine period to a full 28 days, both for anyone who is newly-quarantined and to those who currently are waiting out their initial 14-day period. ”

The Prime Minister has also called out to those who had completed their initial 14-day isolation period to remain in quarantine for the rest of the days, adding up to the full 28 days.

“So, for example, if you are on day seven of your quarantine, you will remain in quarantine for 21 more days. Anyone whose quarantine has ended will not go back into quarantine, but they will continue to be monitored by the Ministry of Health until they meet the full 28-day threshold,” he said.

Fijians returning from overseas: 

Fijians who have returned from overseas remain under closely supervised quarantine.

“One flight is arriving tomorrow from Auckland –– every passenger aboard will head straight to one of these facilities.

“The period of quarantine is now 28 days. If you’ve already been released from quarantine after returning from overseas, prepare for a visit from health officials.”

Feedback: jennis.naidu@fijisun.com.fj