North Order Can Be Enacted: Fong

A public health order can be enacted if those who had been traced as having interacted with or had been in close proximity to a confirmed COVID-19 case refused to undergo screening a second time.

This is the strong statement by Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong.

His comments come after a few of those who had been screened in the North refused to go a second time.

They returned from Viti Levu by airplane or by boat on April 18 and 19 but refused to get a second test done this week.

Dr Fong said: “They have to go to the clinics.”

Screening clinics are currently operational all over Fiji.

The acting Divisional Medical Officer Northern Dr Tiko Saumalua said the Northern team were lowering their threshold for testing.

This means that all travelers from Viti Levu were assumed to be positive until proven otherwise.

“Most will be called back for a Day 14 testing depending on their travel dates assumed as their date of possible exposure,” Dr Saumalua said.

“This strong stance is taken to ensure that the North is safe.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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