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Press Release: Suspension of Inbound Passenger Flights  

Tuesday, 22 December 2020: The COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce (CRMT) is announcing a cessation of all inbound passenger flights to Fiji between Thursday, 24^th December, and Monday, 28^th December 2020. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will use this period to conduct an extensive review of its border quarantine processes in light of the discovery of a potentially more contagious strain of the novel Coronavirus in the United Kingdom (UK). The situation will be reviewed during this period and may be extended.

While our current border quarantine protocols have been effective in maintaining Fiji’s COVID-Contained status for 246 days now, if this new strain of the virus is easier to transmit, it could potentially pose an increased risk of inflight transmission to other passengers. The review will assess what steps Fiji may need to take to proactively mitigate any increased risk from this newly-discovered strain.

Exemptions may be made by the Permanent Secretary for Health for inbound travelers from countries other than those affected by this potentially contagious strain of the Novel Coronavirus.

Several repatriation flights have been approved to land up to 24^th December. Any traveler onboard these flights coming from the UK, as well as passengers deemed as traveling contacts of UK-based travelers, will be identified and quarantined separately. The Ministry has already introduced heightened transmission precautionary measures with regards to personal protective equipment used by all border frontline workers from Monday, 21^st December.

For more information, contact the CRMT Secretariat at crmt@govnet.gov.fj

About CRMT

The COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce is a Cabinet-mandated working group consisting of the Permanent Secretaries for Economy (Chair), Health and Medical Services and Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport. The Secretariat support is provided by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Border Health Protection, Incident Management Team, and Republic of Fiji Military Forces Surveillance team.