Case numbers, positivity rate, admissions and deaths would indicate when curfew can be completely lifted – Dr. Fong

Case numbers, positivity rate, admissions and deaths would indicate when curfew can be completely lifted – Dr. Fong

By Rashika Kumar
Monday 11/10/2021
Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong. [Image: Ministry of Health]

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says case numbers, the positivity rate, admissions and deaths would indicate that the COVID-19 is no longer a threat in our communities and curfews can be completely lifted.

This comes as Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced that once data shows the virus no longer presents a serious public health threat, they will lift the curfew entirely.

Dr. Fong says they will have to make sure that those numbers accurately reflect the situation by making sure they have a community surveillance programme and the test per 1,000 population should be around 2.5.

The Permanent Secretary says currently, it is at about 1.5 tests per 1,000 population because we are coming out of the mitigation phase.

Dr. Fong says once we get back into full containment phase, they will have to escalate the testing parameters that will mean the testing protocols will have to change and they will have to start using the rapid diagnostic test kits.

He says the problem with the tests is that it takes almost 12 hours to get one test result so they have to start using the rapid diagnostic tests intelligently and make it more sensitive.

Dr. Fong says there is a possibility that curfews can be completely lifted from December 1st, when the first scheduled tourism flight to the country arrives.

He says he would really like to see everyone, including tourists and Fijians get the same treatment in terms of curfew.

Dr. Fong says if tourists stay in their own hotel, they have their own party and there is nobody else accessing that party, then that is not too bad.

FEATURE NEWS
Parents pushing children to go out and sell drugs – Father Sigarara
A qualified psychologist has raised concerns on how our society, that professes to be Christian, have become so cold that even parents and adults are ...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Residents from Lami to Nausori likely to face water cuts due to water turbidity
Thousands of residents living in areas between Lami to Nausori are likely to face water cuts due to a steady increase in raw water turbidity levels ...
27 minutes ago

18 people undergoing treatment after bus collides with 4x4 vehicle in Lautoka
18 people are currently being treated at the Lautoka Hospital after a Goundar Shipping bus collided with a 4x4 vehicle this afternoon. Police have ...
57 minutes ago

Barriers to digital finance leave vulnerable Fijians struggling
Vulnerable groups across Fiji—including elderly villagers, low-income families and rural communities face significant obstacles in accessing ...
1 hour ago

Education Ministry investigates alleged grant misuse and workplace harassment at Ba school
The Ministry of Education is investigating allegations of misuse of the Free Education Grant and workplace harassment at a primary school in Ba, ...
1 hour ago

Bureau of Stats completes Employment and Unemployment Survey, report expected mid 2025
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics has completed its Employment and Unemployment Survey last month, wrapping up a data collection activity that took a ...
1 hour ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
5 days ago

Continuous Radiology and Pharmacy services are now expected at Government Hospitals
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals ...
5 days ago

Ratu Wiliame Katonivere declines Presidential nomination after an internal audit and investigation report
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term ...
6 days ago

TOP