From the Editor-in Chief’s desk: Your January 3 briefing

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Bula all
I hope you are all enjoying your break and wish you the very best… stay well and stay safe.

HEADLINES
Here are some headlines that made The Fiji Times’ edition for Monday, January 3.

PAGE 1
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services supports the reopening of schools this week. Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong made the comment as Fiji records 805 new cases with two COVID-19 deaths. He said they have consulted with the World Health Organisation (WHO), and UNICEF, reviewed all the evidence and taken into account Fiji’s current situation. Dr Fong said the ministry’s plan to mitigate this third wave of COVID-19 and the potential health impact of any severe adverse weather condition was sufficient.

PAGES 2 and 3
-FIJI has recorded 805 new cases with two COVID-19 deaths. Dr Fong said 316 new cases were recorded on Thursday, 223 new cases were recorded on Friday and 266 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours ending at 8 am yesterday morning.
-MAJORITY of individuals testing positive in medical facilities had presented for non-COVID medical problems and were found to be positive while undergoing routine screening, says Dr Fong.
-THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services is mindful of the fact that many of their staff are tired and in need of rest and recuperation.
– Dr Fong says he is confident that the ministry’s plan to mitigate this third wave of COVID-19 and the potential health impact of any severe adverse weather condition is sufficient.
– THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services supports the reopening of schools this week. Dr Fong said they have consulted with the World Health Organisation, and UNICEF, reviewed all the evidence and taken into account Fiji’s current situation.

PAGE 4
– FIJI should expect more rain over the next few months. This after the Fiji Meteorological Services released the January to March Rainfall Outlook report forecasted rain to be above normal for most parts of the country.
– THE Ministry of Education is currently recruiting teachers to fill the vacant vacancies after 493 teachers exited the ministry for a number of reasons, including resignation, retirement, death and termination.

PAGE 5
– WORK on the $4.8 million Velovelo Bridge in Lautoka is expected to be completed by March this year. Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) CEO Kamal Prasad said while work had been continuing, the unfavourable weather conditions had been a major factor in construction works.
– THE Fiji Taxi Association (FTA) is urging Fijians not to attack operators who are merely providing a service to the public. The call comes after a series of incidents of alleged assault of taxidrivers occurred in the Western Division. FTA president Raben Bhan Singh said the series of alleged assaults on taxidrivers was concerning.
– WHILE many Fijians spent January 1 celebrating the New Year, some parents spent the day preparing their children for the start of a new school term. Waiyavi resident Dominic Lakshman Kumar said while he wanted to celebrate the New Year, he was more concerned about buying stationery for his high school student son.
PAGE 7
– UMENI Siovini says in the midst of rising costs of basic food items and the cost of living, she is unsure if her two granddaughters will be able to go to school this week.
– REPAIRING shoes outside the Suva Municipal Market is how Ashok Kumar puts food on the table for his wife and children. He said his earnings were barely enough to cover their day-to-day expenses, let alone meet his children’s school needs.
– THE FOUNDATION for the Education of Needy Children (FENC) in Fiji assisted more than 6800 children with school supplies in 2021.

SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about 7s rugby, the governing Fiji Rugby Union and new national coach Ben Gollings.

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