Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu is calling for a change in the mindset of Fijian people after the Fiji Police Force made 19 arrests on Saturday for failure to wear face masks in public.

A Police truck was spotted in Suva City rounding up those who were not wearing their mask correctly or did not have a mask on.

“Adequate advisories have been issued and Police will be coming down hard on those who fail to wear a mask in a public place within a containment or lockdown zone,” ACP Tudravu said.

Anyone violating the mask orders is liable to be charged for the offence of “Failure to Comply with Orders” under Section 69(1) (c) of the Public Health, 1935 and Regulations 2 of the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2020.

Business operators who do not adhere will be referred to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport.

“We cannot continue to let people go with a warning because one’s failure to wear a mask in a public place is unfair to others who are abiding by the law as they are genuinely worried about their health,” ACP Tudravu said.

“There needs to be a change in mindset because by now everyone knows the situation we are in, and the fact that some will only do the right thing when Police are present is worrying and upsetting.”

The Orders are.

• Any person in a public place in a containment zone or lockdown zone must, except with reasonable excuse, wear a face covering in the proper manner.
• Any driver of a public service vehicle, or passenger in a public service vehicle must, except with reasonable excuse, wear a face covering in the proper manner.
• Any business in Fiji must, except with reasonable excuse, require its employees and customers to wear face coverings in the proper manner to enter the premises of the business.

It does not apply to.

• A child who is under the age of 5 years
• A Police officer acting during his or her duty, if performing such duty would be hindered by wearing a face covering; and
• An emergency responder acting in his or her capacity as an emergency responder, if acting in such capacity would be hindered by wearing a face covering.

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