Wednesday, 2 March 2022: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Fiji’s stance on adapting to the new normal, the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce (CRMT) continues to encourage adherence to COVID-Safe protocols for the safety of the Fijian population, and travellers to Fiji.
While Fiji has a high level of vaccination, we continue to emphasise ventilation, masking, physical distancing, cough/sneeze etiquette, hand washing, and isolating from others if you have symptoms.
“While masking, physical distancing, and ventilation are three measures that must consistently be practised, a certain level of flexibility can be applied to two where the other measure becomes difficult to apply.
Irrespective of the scenario, an effective mask must be kept close to you at all times,” said Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr. James Fong.
The current masking requirement of wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth is mandatory in all public places for everyone aged 8 years and over, including in public service vehicles and inter-island vessels, remains in force.
COMPLEMENTING THE 3 COVID-SAFE MEASURES
In a setting where physical distancing of 2-metres is difficult, then increasing ventilation and more strict masking practice needs to be followed. A well-ventilated indoor space refers to an indoor space with adequate circulation of outside air coming into the space, and inside air going out.
In an inadequate ventilated space, the physical distancing rules will increase and masking will become more necessary.
For custodians of workplaces, houses of worship, and the like, balancing the relationship between ventilation, physical distance, and masking is the only way to ensure that services are COVID safe and can be customised to the principle of living with the virus.
Your workplace/establishment Standard Operating Procedures need to be configured to all activities that occur in your work or worship space in order to be COVID-Safe resilient. Through these changes, we aim to mitigate the risk of unsustainable sick leave levels each time we get a variant or outbreak. Mitigating the risk of people getting sick is the best way to reduce the risk of severe disease and death.
Promoting good COVID safe principles in a common-sense approach is the best way to start.
The Permanent Secretary for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport further added the need for continued compliance to COVID safe measures for business continuity.
“While it's important that we follow these three COVID safe measures – vaccines will remain our best protection. If you are yet to be vaccinated, it becomes your responsibility to do so for your safety and that of others,” said Shaheen Ali.
The updated guidelines on mask wearing published by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services can be accessed
here.
The updated COVID-Safe protocols, effective 7 February 2022 can be assessed
here.
These protocols reinforce Fiji’s containment efforts and remain in place until further notice.