COVID-19

MOH preparing for easing of restrictions in the Northern Division

October 16, 2021 6:35 am

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong [Source: Fijian Government]

The Ministry of Health has remodeled the health service provision in preparation for easing restrictions in the Northern Division.

The easing of travel restrictions is needed to facilitate social and economic livelihood given that too many people have been away from home since April this year.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says even with the precautions in place and with the re-entry protocol relaxation, the Ministry expects cases to occur in the community of the Northern Division with the movement of people from Viti Levu.

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The Ministry of Health will be normalizing movement between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu once the second dose vaccine coverage in Vanua Levu is at an overall 80 percent of adults.

The current coverage rate for the North is at 91% for dose one and 70.4% for dose two.

Registration and pass issuance process is needed to facilitate the Ministry’s ability to maintain oversight over both home and facility-based quarantine.

Doctor Fong says each traveler will be provided with the rules relating to quarantine and punitive measures will be applied if there is a verified breach in any of the quarantine conditions.

He adds community surveillance through test, trace and track protocols are being escalated to help them identify and contain any outbreak early.

The Permanent Secretary says registration and line listing of vulnerable persons especially in poorly vaccinated areas has been done.

Doctor Fong adds clinical care protocols for the severe disease have been reviewed and strengthened.

The Ministry’s communication team together with the multi-agency community engagement team are working with community leaders to identify and strengthen mechanisms that will facilitate the monitoring of vulnerable persons and persons with COVID-like symptoms.