With a new strain of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 detected in South Africa, Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr James Fong, says getting booster shots and following COVID-19 safe measures were the only ways to protect ourselves.

An online article by The Conversation Australia yesterday said that the BA.4 and BA.5 sub variants were more infectious than previous COVID variants and sub variants.

Dr Fong said Fiji was currently still reliant on sending samples to Australia for sequencing, and the number of samples being sent was limited.

“Because of this there will be a delay between when BA.4 and BA.5 enters Fiji and when we detect it,” he said.

“Therefore, to be protected, get your booster shots and follow COVID-19 safe measures.”

“As far as having whole genome sequencing at Fiji CDC, the team has been trained, equipment from WHO is inbound and some already received. We are just sorting a sub grant agreement so we can get the bio informatics computer.”

The protection of every Fijian, he said, was in their hands and his encouraging the public to receive their booster doses to be protected.

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