Chaudhry urges government to impose a lockdown
If we take the lockdown route, people will be given ample notice – Dr Fong

Chaudhry urges government to impose a lockdown

If we take the lockdown route, people will be given ample notice – Dr Fong

By Naveel Krishant
Wednesday 12/05/2021
Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

The Fiji Labour Party says they urge the government to bite the bullet and impose a lockdown so that people can get on with their lives as soon as possible.

Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says government should come out with a firm decision on whether to impose another lockdown in the containment areas.

Chaudhry further says with new cases emerging virtually everyday, it has become clear that the virus is spreading fast and only a more measured and practical lockdown will ensure that the virus is contained.

He says for several weeks now people have been locked in containment areas but this has not stopped the spread of the virus adding the nation cannot continue with a situation where businesses and industries remain closed indefinitely.

However Chaudhry says the lockdown must not be the curfew-like lockdown that was imposed two weekends ago.

He says we should take our cue from the manner in which lockdowns were imposed in Australia and New Zealand which went through a lockdown period of 14 weeks during the case of a severe pandemic.

Chaudhry highlighted that people should be allowed out for an hour or so a day only to buy food and access other essentials, go to the pharmacies or the doctors as the case may be and this should be rigidly controlled with the enforcement of rules which clearly spell out the restrictions and the penalties that will apply for the breach.

He adds time should also be allowed for daily exercises.

He says this way families that can afford to buy food will be able to do so without becoming a burden on the State and government can then provide food for those who lack the means to purchase it.

Chaudhry has also questioned why non-containment areas like Ba, Tavua and Sigatoka are currently subjected to lockdown conditions adding they should be allowed to operate as normal with little disruption to their lives, but with tightly controlled borders.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong has said that based on the worrying rise of clusters and cases of COVID-19, he has been working with other permanent secretaries as well as the private sector on scenario-planning based on the results of continuous testing that includes the possibility of a full lockdown of Viti Levu.

Doctor Fong also assures the public that if they take the lockdown route, people will be given ample notice, not within hours, but in days to prepare and for government to allocate resources appropriately.

He says for the lockdown to be decisive, it must be well-planned and prolonged enough to last for the entire incubation period.

FEATURE NEWS
Health Ministry monitoring rise in HMPV infections in China
The Ministry of Health says they are collaborating with the World Health Organization to monitor the media reports on the increase in Human Metapneumo...
6 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
A single cigarette slashes 20 minutes off your life expectancy, research suggests
If you're thinking about making a New Year's resolution to quit smoking, it might help to know that new research says it could extend your life ...
5 hours ago

Nausori shop robbery suspect identified but yet to be arrested
Police have yet to arrest the culprit who allegedly robbed a shop in Nausori after forcing his way through a small space on the counter. They ...
6 hours ago

Nasinu residents criticize the Council over missed green waste collection
Nasinu residents have expressed disappointment, claiming the 2024 staff bonus for the Nasinu Town Council should have been allocated to resolve the ...
6 hours ago

Robbery victims call for justice after alleged theft at Lautoka Hotel on New Year’s Day
Prinal Devi and Nalini Prasad, victims of an alleged robbery at the Lautoka Hotel in the early hours of New Year’s Day, are calling for justice ...
6 hours ago

Heavy Rain Warning cancelled, but Flash Flood Alert remains in parts of Fiji
The Heavy Rain Warning previously in force for the entire Fiji Group has been cancelled but a Flash Flood Alert remains in force for all low lying, ...
8 hours 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
Lynda Tabuya dismissed as Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says in light of the recent events concerning the conduct of Lynda Tabuya, and in consideration of the Oath she has ...
9 days ago

Fijian Drua in Kadavu
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua are keeping in tradition with their previous pre-season training and will be in Kadavu till Friday afternoon. The ...
16 days ago

Vanuatu Earthquake
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake, which struck at a depth of 57km, occurred 30km to the west of the capital Port Vila at 1.47pm, according to the US ...
16 days ago

TOP