COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Nadi has been temporarily halted until staff can be swabbed and cleared

The Health Ministry confirms their contact tracing investigations have identified several of their vaccination personnel as secondary contacts of an earlier-announced COVID-19 case in Nadi.

As a result, the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in Nadi has been temporarily halted until these staff can be swabbed and cleared.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says while an overwhelming majority of new cases are linked to existing clusters, it is clear that the recent escalation in daily case numbers from the Central Division signals the increasing severity of this outbreak.

Doctor Fong says the emergence of clusters outside of the Lami-Nausori containment zone in Naitasiri is also a cause for concern, and the cases within the CWM Hospital, as well as within the COVID-19 Incident Management Team, are serious developments that have had an impact on their ability to respond.

Doctor Fong says we can expect more cases.

Therefore, now more than ever, they are urging every Fijian to consistently take heed of the measures they have announced to protect yourselves and your loved ones from this virus.

If you leave your home you should behave as if every single person you encounter is potentially a carrier of COVID-19.

Anyone can get COVID-19, but we can all reduce our risk by following these simple rules if we have to leave home: Wear a well-fitted mask, maintain physical distancing of at least 2 metres between yourself and others, download the careFIJI app and activate your Bluetooth, avoid crowds and crowded, confined places and wash your hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitiser.

Do not attend or organize social gatherings.

Don’t meet up with friends.

Don’t share a bowl of grog with workmates after work or anyone outside your household.

Don’t visit family that live outside your home. It is safest to avoid interacting with anyone who is not a member of your household as much as possible.