‘More than 92pc population screened’

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FIJI Water Foundation Manager Marie Smith (1st Right) and fellow Foundation staff during the handover to Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete. Picture: SUPPLIED

More than 2000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted so far in the country, says Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

Speaking at a donation ceremony by the FIJI Water Foundation yesterday, he said they had screened more than 92 per cent of Fiji’s population through the mobile and fixed community fever screenings.

Dr Waqainabete said with three remaining cases of COVID-19 patients in the country cleared, there were things Fiji needed to continue doing internally “from a medial perspective” before the country could get into talks of joining the travel bubble with Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Waqainabete said these were obviously the layers the Fijian Government had put in place but also the extent of testing Fiji had. “We are very blessed that we have Fiji’s own Disease Control and the two panels of testing,” he said.

“We are testing very widely above and beyond the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

“So we need to make sure that we continue doing that and much as we can. But also work with other stakeholders that are in place to make sure we all understand what the new normal is.”

Meanwhile, Ambassador of the European Union for the Pacific, Sujiro Seam in a video message has congratulated the Fijian Government in achieving the status of COVID-19 free.

Mr Seam said this was great news for Fiji and invited people to come and visit Fiji. He offered a new slogan for Fiji as a destination – “Come to Fiji, We Are COVID Free”.

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