Bula
Tonight certainly hasn’t been a pleasant one in terms of our COVID-19 numbers.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services announced six new cases tonight.
However, this came in the wake of the initial announcement of 18 new cases earlier in the day.
This actually takes our new cases tonight to a staggering 24.
Now that’s massive and does place interest on how we are focused on fighting the virus.
The revelation that some people are still engaging in unsafe behaviour such as social gathering is shocking.
But more of that tomorrow.
Here are some stories that made the headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Monday, May 24.
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Shut down Viti Levu – Rabuka
This is also on the front page: Fiji should bite the bullet and shut down Viti Levu for a month to effectively take control of the COVID-19 outbreak. This was the suggestion made by former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka in a letter to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama last week.
24 positive cases
Fiji recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a day after 24 individuals tested positive for the virus yesterday. This, since the country recorded its second outbreak last month. There are now 92 active cases in isolation. Fiji has had 230 cases in total with 134 recoveries and four deaths since the first case was reported on March 19, 2020.
REFLECTIONS
But first let’s pause here for a minute and consider an issue we hardly get to talk about.
Earlier today the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, in light of recent COVID-19 cases, set-up screening and isolation zones in Waila and Tacirua.
In a press statement this morning, Health Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong explained that with more cases coming out of Muanikoso, screening and isolation had been expanded to the area as well.
In the wake of the announcement of cases in Samabula, he said, family members had been advised about the next step and asked that they go into household isolation. There would also be a household isolation site in Tacirua.
Ongoing investigations and responses, he said, would be done over the next few days which would be visible to the public.
Perhaps an important part of this latest statement by Dr Fong had to be the call for the public to remain calm as the ministry continues with contact tracing and containment measures.
If you are anxious, he said, the most useful thing to do is to stay home and allow the ministry’s teams to continue their screening and containment program.
In the face of all the statistics and new cases popping up, sometimes we are so overwhelmed with information we forget some of the connected issues around us.
On May 17, renowned psychotherapist, Selina Kuruleca warned the surge in people taking out their frustration on social media was a result of the devastating impact of COVID-19 on mental health.
People’s mental health, she warned, could be at a breaking point because just when people thought the situation was slowly getting back to normal the B.1.617 emerged with health restrictions heightened.
She said more people were seeking help from NGOs dealing with psychological counselling.
She said for some the current situation had been resourceful.
“But if this continues, patience will run out and people’s frustration will surface,” she told The Fiji Times.
“Having the B.1.617 variant made our task a bit harder, daily living a bit more stressful.
“Then we had the superspreader event and of course the ever increasing numbers of community transmission, forcing people into poverty.”
On the same day, we reported mental health specialist Peter Schultz, the founder of Operation Foundation saying people who are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19 in Fiji need to undergo psychological counselling.
Frontline workers, he warned, live in the reality of increased risk of exposure, and the pressure to serve and protect the community.
“They will experience everything from exhaustion, burnout, compassion fatigue and in some cases, trauma.”
Providing psychological support, he said, was critical for frontline workers during and after the pandemic.
Ms Kuruleca said if untreated, it could result in a demoralised, prone to illness factor and increased mental health issues.
Research, she said, showed that across the world the psychological reactions of healthcare staff working with patients in several past viral outbreaks found more contact with sick patients were associated with greater psychological distress.
In response, Dr Fong was quoted saying the mental health cluster was sorting out the issue.
So how do we contribute as the greater part of the population?
Let’s stay home. Let’s adhere strictly to physical distancing rules. Let’s focus on doing the little things right. Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use a mask if you have to go out, and switch on you careFIJI app. Do not touch your face when out in public. Wash your hands first before you put them anywhere near your face. Or use a hand sanitiser.
Let’s do this for ourselves, our loved ones and for Fiji.
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tests in the Nadawa area, Nasinu, on Tuesday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
Screening clinic set-up
The escalation of COVID-19 in the Central Division has prompted the Ministry of Health to relocate its screening facilities. Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said screening would be carried out on all contacts and symptomatic cases.
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Duo quarantined
The daughter and wife of the Lautoka man who died because of COVID-19 on May 5 have returned home after 14 days in quarantine. Priya Devi and her mother Manmeet Kuar were quarantined at the Nalagi Hotel in Nadi and were released last Friday.
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Family rely on breakfast crackers
Feeding 14 people on a daily basis is a huge task for anyone. For Jagdish and family who are in isolation in Lakena, Nausori, Breakfast Crackers became a staple after they began to run out of food.
Family turns to social media
A family in Nadali, Nausori who claimed to have no money and no food, desperately posted on social media for help during the recent Suva-Nausori lockdown. Amit Kumar said his family had no choice but to turn to social media for food supplies after the lockdown which began the previous Friday.
Nadi eatery down
Nadi-based eatery Habibi Mediterranean Restaurant and Bar says business is down by more than 60 per cent.
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FNU students stranded
The Ministry of Education and the Fiji National University (FNU) need to provide an explanation about why more than 180 students stranded at the Natabua campus in Lautoka were not provided with food, says National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad.
Farmers stressed out
Farmers are mentally stressed out because many are surviving on cassava, tea and rice, says 31 Nakia TT gang leader Rajeshwar Singh. “This is a very sad time for farmers in the country as many are eating boiled cassava and tea for one meal and for the other meal, they eat rice and tea.”
Repayment of loans
A Nadi lorry owner says he will be able to make loan repayments if crushing at the Lautoka mill begins as scheduled on June 4. Praneel Naicker from Vuniyasi, Nadi said he owed more than $35,000 in loans for two trucks.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Check out the letters on Pages 8 and 9.
PEOPLE
In this popular section you can read about: RAJEN Mudaliar for the most part of his life has worked as a driver for various companies in Nadi, but with the impact of the pandemic he has shifted his focus back to toiling the land.
POINT OF ORIGIN
This section is out every Monday. Read about: THE building located where McArthur St and Victoria Pde meet is quite possibly one of the most famous corners in Fiji. For more than 40 years, apart from the Golden Dragon which is a stone’s throw away, it was the social hot spot of the Capital City.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about: Fijian flyer Sevu Reece was in top form on Saturday night as he scored two tries to help his Crusaders side beat the Reds 63-28 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The win has ensured the Super Rugby Aotearoa champions keep a clean slate as they head into the third round of the Trans Tasman competition this weekend.
GET A COPY
There’s a lot to read inside. You’ll have to get a copy though to know what we are talking about. Happy reading!
e-EDITION
I have been getting calls from people who miss the newsprint version. In this lockdown period, you could try reading the newspaper on the e-Edition platform. It’s easy to hook up via mPaisa! You can contact us for details on https://www.fijitimes.com/subscribe/ or you can call Setaita on 7754078, or on 3304111 during office hours, to assist you.
You could also just follow a few steps and read The Fiji Times a few minutes later, live and direct! Here are the simple steps to follow:
1: Log onto www.fijitimes.com 2: Select the SUBSCRIBE tab. 3: Register. 4: Select mPaisa payment option!
Try it! It’s a different experience!
