As bigger and more developed countries try their best to stem the flow of COVID-19 figures upwards, we are in a healthy position to reflect on how we have fared so far.
Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete yesterday revealed we were finally COVID-free after our last border quarantine case was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, after 80 days.
He confirmed Fiji had no COVID-19 cases and it had been 180 days since we had a COVID-19 case in the community.
“When we look at what we call community transmission of COVID-19 or for any communicable disease, what it means is someone is sick and turns up to be examined and be tested, also checked for his contacts, to try and find how he contracted the disease,” said Dr Waqainabete.
Fiji, he said, didn’t have community transmission because “our first 18 cases that came into the community were linked to someone from whom they contracted the virus”.
“Therefore, there were no major worries in these aspects as most of them contracted the disease overseas and none originated locally.”
Our joint effort to control the spread of the virus in Fiji, he said, was something to celebrate.
The revelation is actually refreshing and should inspire all Fijians. It means, as a nation, we were able to unite for a common cause. It means our frontliners were on the ball so to speak. The recent case of the virus infecting the US President Donald Trump drove home the fact that there were really no boundaries it could not penetrate if given a chance.
The best cause of action right now remains prevention. On the international front, CNN reported yesterday there have been at least 7,907,677 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 216,000 COVID-19-related deaths.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it said, posted an optimistic forecast about COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, promising some vaccines by the end of the year.
Aside from discussion on a Trans-Tasman travel bubble closer to home, Hong Kong and Singapore, CNN reported, were also discussing an ‘air travel bubble’ that allows residents to travel between the two Asian countries without requiring quarantine or restrictive control measures.
It seems the two Asian hubs have managed to get their COVID-19 outbreaks under control and reported low numbers of local infections in the past few months. Back on the home front, yesterday’s announcement is great news. It places us in a very healthy pedestal.
However, we can’t be complacent. We have a challenge to keep the status quo.
That means adhering to social distancing rules, listening to advice from the Ministry of Health, and being vigilant.
Our hopes and aspirations also rest on the shoulders of our frontliners at our border facilities. Together we must stay on course.
