It is extremely dangerous to establish quarantine centres in areas that are COVID-19 free,” says Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube.
He made the comments after two hotels along the Coral Coast vouched to support the Government in its fight to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by becoming quarantine facilities.
“The basic question is this: Why can’t the government establish these centres in the containment areas? Have they run out of facilities in the greater Suva area,” Mr Narube queried.
Mr Narube said it made good sense to keep the virus within the containment areas and insulate the COVID-19 free zones.
He said the protest by the people of Nadroga at the establishment of quarantine centres along the Coral Coast was justifiable.
“Irrespective of the safety measures that are taken at these centres, the risk to the people of contracting the disease in the surrounding areas has just multiplied many times over.
“Government should now know that breaches of protocols do happen. All it takes is a small mistake like what happened at the Nadi quarantine centre to wreak havoc across the nation.”
Mr Narube said the Government had made some “mind-boggling” decisions in this crisis that defy logic, and unfortunately, this was another one of them.
“The Government owes the people answers to many questions and we must demand these answers now.”
Questions sent to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete and Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong remained unanswered when this edition went to press last night.
