Bula vinaka everyone
It’s the end of the weekend and as we count down the hours to the start of another brand new week, we wish you the very best.
Tonight, our topic of discussion is the revelation that COVID-19 has spread its tentacles to the Northern Division.
When permanent secretary for Health and Medical Services Dr James Fong made his COVID-19 statement on Saturday night, he would have attracted great interest.
He announced 314 new cases of COVID-19 to report for the 24 hour period that ended at 8am that day.
He said 259 cases were from the Western Division, and there were 54 cases from the Central Division, and there was one case from the Northern Division.
As our numbers continue to spiral out of control within the Lami-Suva to Nausori corridor, this revelation about the case in the North is a major concern.
The case is of a person working at the Nabouwalu wharf at the lower end of Vanua Levu.
On that day, according to Dr Fong, investigations into how this person got infected were still in the very early stages.
It appears the exposure to the virus happened onboard a ship unloading cargo from Suva earlier in the week.
The person tested positive during routine swabbing of wharf workers on Friday.
The positive person, he said, was securely moved to the Malau isolation facility and household members were quarantined. So far, the person’s household members had tested negative for the virus.
Now, it seems, with the help of the careFIJI app the ministry’s COVID-19 response team in the Northern Division had identified other primary contacts, including workplace contacts, and they were quarantined, with test results pending. The team are continuing to trace other people the person may have come into contact with during the infectious period.
He assured the people of the North that the health team was working closely with other local agencies and communities to prevent any further spread of the virus.
Any further measures that may be required to halt transmission would be made after Dr Fong has been briefed by the Northern team.
After the scenarios on Viti Levu, especially within the Suva-Nausori corridor, we will now look up to the powers that be to make tough calls.
The Australian Capital Territory recently went into lockdown in the wake of just one confirmed case last week.
Now more than ever, we look up to the powers that be to raise the level of awareness about safety measures among Fijians around the country.
We reiterate that it is dangerous to assume that everyone is actually getting critical information. This is why it is very important that every available platform is used to disseminate vital information that should assist in the fight against the virus.
There must be consideration for people who live in areas that do not have access to internet or mobile connections for instance.
Now that we have a case in the North, it is very important that every effort is made to create a very high level of awareness.
Decisions are important at this stage. We must learn from how we handled the second wave, and how we have fared since April.
Together Fiji, please!
LATE UPDATE
Tonight, Dr Fong’s nightly announcement hadn’t been made when this upload went up. However, you can check it out on www.fijitimes.com if it does come out.
HEADLINES
# Here are some headlines that made The Fiji Times’ edition for Monday, August 16.
PAGE 1
NADROGA Navosa Province paramount chief Na Ka Levu Ratu Tevita Nabekwahiga Makutu has stated their intentions not to take part in the Bill 17 public consultations carried out by Government.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Ratu Tevita explained the province’s exemption from the consultations following the passing of the Bill in Parliament last month.
PAGE 2
# OUR COVID-safe measures work better in a vaccinated population, says Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr James Fong.
# Dr Fong says there is evidence that there is widespread community transmission of COVID-19 –
in the Suva-Nausori containment zone and the Western division.
PAGE 3
# SPEAKER of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has advised the Social Democratic Liberal Party(SODELPA) that it is “at liberty itself” to file proceedings against its MP Mosese Bulitavu in the Court of Disputed Returns.
# A MOTION for a special Parliamentary Committee to analyse, assess and report on the effectiveness of the Health Ministry’s response to the Covid-19 Emergency to be moved by National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad in this week’s Parliament sitting has been rejected by the Parliamentary Business Committee.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
# There are interesting letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
# In this ever popular section of the newspaper, read about: ROSANA Biu’s passion for flowers grew stronger after the passing of her husband in 2012. From flowers to decorating the outside of her farm home in Vuna in Naitasiri, she now grows flowers as a business to put food on the table. Born in Nukuni, Lau she moved to Viro in Ovalau in 1962.
BUSINESS
# There are some interesting reports in this section.
POINT OF ORIGIN
# This special section comes out every Monday. Read about: THE historical background of Vallabh Bhai and the taste of its sweets and savoury desserts have a special place in the hearts of every Nausori resident.
SPORTS
# The big one on the back page is about: OLYMPICS rugby 7s gold medallist and Fiji men’s 7s team player Iosefo Masi wants to continue to play for Fiji. The 23-year-old said he had received many overseas offers after their win in Tokyo but he wanted to continue to play for the white jumper.
MORE INSIDE
# There’s more to read inside, but you’ll have to get a copy to know what we are talking about.
Happy reading!
