I’ve just left our coronavirus war room at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, where we start every day with a briefing from our country’s top medical minds and viral specialists, who, together with the World Health Organisation, keep us up-to-date on the global COVID-19 pandemic and the situation on the ground here in Fiji.

As of today, the 24th of March, our first three confirmed cases of COVID-19 are in stable condition. All remain safely isolated from the public.

Early this morning, we confirmed a fourth case of COVID-19 in Fiji. This patient is not related to our first three cases. He is a 28-year-old Fijian man who arrived back into the country on Saturday from Australia.

When he left that flight, he was not showing any symptoms of COVID-19. Regardless, he was advised by health officials at the airport to go straight home and self-quarantine for 14 days.

It appears this gentleman did everything right. He went from the airport straight to his flat in Suva, where he immediately self-quarantined. That Sunday night, while he was still self-quarantined, he developed mild symptoms –– a sore throat, and then a cough. Recognising the warning signs of COVID-19, he contacted the Ministry of Health via the dedicated hotline, and a rapid response team was immediately dispatched to his home, where he was examined and tested. The patient then remained in self-quarantine until the test for COVID-19 returned positive.

After the test was confirmed, an ambulance transported the patient securely and hygienically to our Central Division isolation ward at Navua Hospital. Separate ambulances then transported all members of his household to the Navua Hospital isolation ward, even though their contact with this patient was limited and they currently display no symptoms. They all remain isolated at the hospital, where they pose zero risk to the public.

There were 26 other people on the same flight –– flight FJ 1916 –– from Sydney to Nadi on Saturday, March 21st. Fiji Airways was practicing safe distancing on the plane, spacing out passengers through their strictly-enforced assigned seating. Because of those safety measures, only a handful of others –– two other passengers and the three cabin crew who serviced his cabin –– risked exposure. Regardless, all other passengers remain in self-quarantine for a 14-day period.

While the risk of transmission from this case is low, our contact tracing teams are currently identifying every single person in Fiji who may have had direct contact with the patient –– down to the taxi driver who drove him from Nadi Airport to Suva.

Fiji Airways has already announced they are cutting their international flights by 95%. This passenger was on one of the final flights from Sydney to get Fijians back home. From tomorrow, there will be no more scheduled passenger Fiji Airways travel into or out of Fiji until further notice.

This case is very different from the first case of COVID-19 we detected in Lautoka. In that case, the patient was showing symptoms and failed to place himself in self-quarantine. That is the reason why we had to lockdown the Lautoka confined area. It is why the area will remain locked down for at least the next nine days.

I want to reiterate again: From everything we know so far, this new patient did everything right. He followed instructions, he was educated on the symptoms, and –– most importantly –– he was diligent in protecting his loved ones.

Through this young man’s actions, it was clear that he cared for his family, cared for his community, and cared for his country. His caution and patriotic sense of duty stands in contrast with the careless behaviour of others we’ve seen in Fiji and around the world.

Given this case is vastly different from our first three cases, we will not be shutting down travel into and out of Suva in the same manner that was required for the Lautoka confined area.

Here’s what needs to be done from today: All Fijians, everywhere in Fiji, should avoid all non-essential travel. That means no Fijian should travel from their home unless absolutely necessary. And they certainly should not be travelling around the country, across divisions or to different islands.

Children should stay at home at all times. The elderly should stay at home at all times. Breadwinners who can go to work should go home straight after. For everyone else, every move you make should be for your own health or the health of others. You can go out to get food, get medicine, take out money or access another essential service. It’s also okay to exercise safely outdoors, so long as you maintain a safe distance from others. But do not visit friends or family unless absolutely necessary. Do not host parties. Do not needlessly linger, and do not mingle with strangers.

This all may sound extreme, but every Fijian needs to understand exactly what we’re up against here. Not in 100 years has the world seen a health crisis this severe. Fiji –– along with every nation on Earth –– is at war with coronavirus, and every Fijian needs to plant themselves squarely on the side of human wellbeing. These are not normal times, and we cannot go about our day-to-day lives as if everything is normal. That mentality –– that ignorance of the reality on the ground and the severity of this disease –– will get people killed.

If one person is exposed to this virus, and ignores our restrictions, they could run around infecting any and everyone they come into contact with. If all those newly-infected people do the same, suddenly, we have a massive outbreak on our hands.

So, if the Ministry of Health has directed you to self-quarantine, do it. They’ll be calling you and checking in on you in-person to make sure you’re staying away from the public. Let me remind you what self-quarantine entails: For 14 days, you must stay in your home. During that time, you should avoid contact with other members of your household as much as humanly possible.

Our ban on gatherings of 20 people or more remains in full effect. Weddings, funerals, concerts, sporting events should all be cancelled. When it comes to people’s health, no event is more important than people’s lives. Remember, lives are priceless, plans can change.

There’s a reason I’m not delivering this message back in the usual cramped press room. I want to show you –– Fijians watching wherever you are – what it means to practice the concept of “social distancing” also known as “physical distancing” –– a term I actually prefer.

Physical distancing means exactly that; keeping your distance from all people at all times. Two metres to be exact. Right now, wherever you are watching this, stop, and look around. Make sure everyone around you is at least an arm’s length away. That is what it means to physically distance.

I don’t care if you’re in the heart of Suva or Lautoka, or in rural Vanua Levu or out in our maritime islands –– maintain that two metre distance as much as humanly possible. Act as if lives are at risk, because lives are at risk.

I’ve seen images going around of people standing in line and congregating in Suva and other urban areas. All of that ends today. If you need to get in line, space yourself out properly and keep two metres between you and everyone else. Queue with the diligence that you could cough or sneeze at any moment, and queue with the compassion that that person could be your grandmother. But even if you lack those traits, know that police officers will be enforcing these measures everywhere in the country.

But our officers cannot be all places at all times. We need every single Fijian enlisted in our nationwide effort to combat the coronavirus. If you see people violating these measures, tell them: Don’t be careless. Seriously, tell them to get their act together and respect everyone’s health. We need everyone’s eyes, ears and voices in this campaign. Lead by example in your own actions, and speak up when you see someone falling out of line. By helping us enforce the rules, you can help reshape Fijians’ social behaviour and save lives.

I’ve told restaurants to cut their seating and place a focus on take-away and delivery. If you run a business in an industry where remote work is possible, tell your workers to start working from home. We also highly discourage passenger travel to our outer islands. Shipping lines for freight will continue –– with increased bulk but decreased frequency –– to ensure food and other essential goods are supplied across our islands.

The same applies everywhere in Fiji. Food and other essential goods will continue to come into the country. We are food secure, there is no need to spend your savings in one frantic go at the supermarkets. We have been informed that some people who ran to the stores to buy up goods in a panic are now wanting to return their groceries to the supermarkets and shops –– that all goes to show how unnecessary, and foolish, the panic-buying was in the first place.

I’d also like to provide an update on the passengers and close contacts of our first patient who were mentioned in yesterday’s statement, on Monday, the 23rd of March. I asked that Fijians who were listed online would come forward and contact the Ministry of Health, and I’m happy to say that dozens have done so, and we’ve determined that more still have already left the country. Meanwhile, 37 still need to reach out to us. That updated list of names is posted on the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page.

My fellow Fijians, take comfort in knowing that we will continue to be transparent and forward with you as the situation unfolds, just as we have been from the beginning. Despite having just a handful of cases, we are acting quickly and decisively –– and our actions are guided by the advice of leading experts from Fiji and around the world. And we aren’t afraid to go further when goodwill isn’t enough; we will not repeat the same mistakes of other nations who did not take such bold measures so quickly.

Also know that we are doing everything in our power to keep you and your families safe; in return, I ask again for your full cooperation in this fight. Let your hearts and minds be guided by care for your country, and care for your fellow Fijian.

Wash your hands. Practice physical distancing. Sanitise your homes and offices. Wipe down your desks and tabletops. Not once, but often.

It boils down to this: Don’t be careless. Use this fourth case –– and the proper actions of this patient –– as an example. Learn from this gentleman –– how to be diligent, how to be compassionate –– and put those same values into practice in everything you do in your lives.

If you have recently travelled overseas, you should already be in self-quarantine. If you feel unwell, immediately contact the Health Ministry on one of these numbers:

In the Central Division call 2219905;
In the Eastern Division call 2219906;
In the Western Division call 2219907; and
In the Northern Division call 2219908.

I’ll now turn things over to Dr Aalisha.

Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you, and God bless Fiji.

Eight fever clinics are now operating around the country as part of the COVID-19 response plan.

Six clinics are now running in Nasinu, Labasa, Savusavu, and Nabouwalu. Two others have been running in Lautoka since last week.

Fever clinics are an important part of our response to the virus, as they give Fijians the ability to seek treatment without going to a hospital.

They also protect our hospitals from the spread of the virus.

The presence of a fever is one of the main COVID-19 symptoms.

Only those who have a fever should present themselves at a fever clinic.

There is no need for an appointment – just turn up and you will be assessed by a nurse.

The clinics are open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with additional hours for Lautoka clinics.

Valelevu Fever Clinic:

• Valelevu Multipurpose Court, Saqa Street

Lautoka Fever Clinics:

• Punjas Health Centre Carpark, Cakau Street
• Kamikamica Health Centre Carpark, Kamikamica Park
• Monday – Friday, 8am-10pm and Saturday – Sunday, 8am-4pm

Labasa Fever Clinics:

• Nasea Health Centre
• Empower Pacific Building (next to Ro Qomate Building)

Savusavu Fever Clinic

• Old Public Health Building (next to hospital)

Taveuni Fever Clinic

• Taveuni Health Centre (Outside GOPD)

Nabouwalu Fever Clinic

• Dedicated tent outside Nabouwalu Hospital

What can I do to protect myself against COVID-19?

• Clean your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Maintain at least one-metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
• Always cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing
• Do not share rumours and misinformation about COVID-19. Use credible sources such as the MHMS website (www.health.gov.fj/) or official Facebook page, or the WHO website (www.who.int).

-ENDS-

Quarantine is used when a person is possibly infected with a disease but is not yet symptomatic.

Isolation applies to patients with symptoms of infectious disease.

A medical officer is authorized to take such measures according to powers vested under Part VII of the Public Health Act, Cap 111, Sections 67 – 83 in regards to protecting the population from Communicable/Infectious Diseases, in this case COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Quarantine:

Individuals that have been in high-risk areas for the past 14 days or have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected individual need to be quarantined.

At onset of home-based quarantine, the following should be reviewed with the person concerned:

1. A healthcare professional provides detailed information on infection pathways and symptoms of the COVID-19 infection. The information can also be found on the website of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services.
   1. Contact and droplet contamination spreads the disease. This means that there is risk of spreading the virus when an infected person sneezes, coughs or blows their nose, and a healthy person inhales these droplets or they land on their hands and they then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
   2. Quarantined individuals need to pay special attention to hand hygiene, especially when interacting with others is unavoidable.

2. A person under quarantine should stay in their home and have contact with as few people as possible.
   1. Quarantined individuals must not leave their home unless necessary, e.g. to seek necessary health care services, after consulting with medical officer. Routine medical or dental check-ups, attending physiotherapy or visits to medical specialists that are not related to the COVID-19 virus are not considered essential health care while in quarantine and all such services should be rescheduled.
   2. Quarantined individual must not use public transport or taxis. If she/he needs to seek necessary health care services, she/he may use a private car if she/he, or someone that is also quarantined in his household, are able to drive.
   3. Quarantined individual must not attend school or work with other people. A medical certificate (sick sheet) from a health facility might be needed. Employers have been instructed to be considerate if an employee needs to be quarantined.
   4. Quarantined individual must not attend any gatherings, whether it concerns their work, family or social life. For example, work meetings or gatherings, union meetings, confirmations, funerals, home-based social gatherings, choir rehearsal, concerts, etc.
   5. Quarantined individuals must not visit fitness centres, swimming pools, theaters, cinemas, shopping malls, or other places where people come together.
   6. Quarantined individuals must not themselves go out for supplies, i.e. to the pharmacy, the grocery store, the post office, banks, etc. Quarantined individuals must not stay in shared condominium space, i.e. stairwell, laundry rooms, or shared yards/outdoor areas.
   7. Quarantined individuals should not welcome guests in the home during quarantine.
   8. Quarantined individuals can go out to a balcony or a private garden. If there are other people there, the quarantined individual must keep at least 1 meter distance.
   9. Quarantined individuals can go for a walk but need to keep at least 1 meter distance from other pedestrians.
   10. Quarantined individuals can go for a drive using a private car but must not interact with others in close proximity, e.g. at drive-thru restaurants.
   11. Quarantined individuals can take out domestic trash, but need to consider hygiene, such as handwashing before and after opening the garbage chute / trashcan / trash room and preferably wipe handles with 70% alcohol or other disinfectants after contact.

3. Others exposed in the same household at the same time can be quarantined together in the same place.

4. It is preferred that individuals in the household that have not been exposed, not be in the same place as the quarantined person.
   1. If non-exposed individuals do not want to leave the household they should limit contact with the quarantined person as much as possible (at least the quarantined person should have her/his own bathroom, sleep in a private bedroom or at least a separate bed). If the quarantined individual then falls ill, the other household members must be quarantined.
   2. If it is confirmed that the COVID-19 transmits from asymptomatic individuals, those that have been in contact with a quarantined individual must also be quarantined at least until the quarantine of the first individual ends.

5. Contact with other people must be strictly limited. Therefore, a quarantined individual may need assistance with necessities.
   1. If some members of the household are quarantined after staying in high-risk areas or have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected individual, other household members can continue with their daily tasks and provide necessities for the quarantined individual.
   2. If the whole household is quarantined, friends or relatives can assist with necessities and leave at the front door.
   3. If delivery of food and other necessities is available in the area, this service can be utilized during quarantine.

6. It is important to practice routine hygiene measures to reduce the risk of infection.

7. Quarantined individuals should measure and record their body temperature daily.

8. If a quarantined individual gets symptoms of the COVID-19 infection, she/he should contact the following numbers: Central 2219905, Eastern 2219906, Western 2219907, Northern 2219908
   19. Quarantined individuals should report all symptoms of illness, whether they believe they are relevant to COVID-19.
   20. Fever, respiratory symptoms, and especially cough and difficulty breathing, are the main symptoms of the COVID-19. Weakness and musculoskeletal pain can be the first symptoms, possibly without fever, but are also common with fever. Common cold symptoms (runny nose etc.) are less common in individuals with the COVID-19 infection than in other human coronavirus infections. Gastrointestinal symptoms and sore throat are less prominent with the COVID19 infection, but do not exclude an infection.

9. If a quarantined individual suffers from an acute illness and needs ambulance transport to the health facility, Fiji CDC should be notified of a possible COVID-19 infection.

As announced Saturday, our first two COVID-19 patients remain in isolation and both are in stable condition.

As I’ve already explained in great detail, once we confirmed our first COVID-19 case, we immediately identified and isolated eleven members of the first patient’s household at our Western Division isolation ward at Nadi Hospital. These individuals were transported in a secure and hygienic fashion and had zero contact with any person in Nadi or anywhere outside the Lautoka confined area. All eleven household members remain in isolation.

Our second confirmed case was the patient’s mother. Following results of our testing, Today, the 23rd of March, we can confirm that the patient’s one-year old nephew has also contracted the virus. Luckily, once again, this patient was not showing symptoms until they were in isolation, vastly cutting the odds they passed the virus onto others.

This is the third confirmed case of COVID-19 in Fiji.

The mortality rate among the young is especially low –– around the world, coronavirus has largely gone undetected in children and infants, as they display only mild symptoms. But as today’s case shows, no age group or demographic is immune to contracting or spreading the virus.

So while today’s case may seem heartbreaking, what is truly frightening is the scenario that could have unfolded if the situation had been handled differently, and our first patient’s entire household wasn’t immediately put into isolation as soon as he tested positive. Every grandparent, great-grandparent, uncle, auntie and neighbour who held this precious, fourteen-month old baby boy in their arms could have easily been infected, all with just a drop of spittle, burp, or cough. And while statistics show that babies will recover, for the more vulnerable in our society, this simple act of affection could be a death sentence.

By the grace of God, our aggressive contact tracing exercise has so far proven very effective, identifying two additional patients who were already safely placed in isolation. But to continue to successfully trace any and all contacts of our first patient, we need your help.

Our first patient worked as a flight attendant. Through our contact tracing, our teams immediately began identifying all individuals who potentially came into contact with the patient during his servicing of three different flights: FJ 411 from Nadi to Auckland, FJ 410 from Auckland to Nadi and FJ 871 from San Francisco to Nadi.

Working with Fiji Airways, our team was able to quickly identify every passenger and potential point of contact on those flights. We have their names and locations. Of the 359 passengers and crew, 277 have been contacted and have since either left the country or entered self-quarantine in Fiji. They will be tested if they begin to display symptoms.

Meanwhile, 82 passengers have yet to come forward, despite repeated attempts to contact them. While some may have left the country, it is vital we get all of these people accounted for. At the moment, they pose an unacceptable risk –– so we are enlisting your help to track them down.

The Ministry of Health and Medical services has published a list of the names and locations on its Facebook page of all individuals on these flights who need to immediately self-quarantine. Every Fijian should read it carefully. If you know one of these individuals, tell them to call 221 9906 immediately ––  our containment efforts depend on each of these individuals making contact with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

Because while these passengers’ interaction with our first patient may have been extremely brief –– especially compared to the intimacy of a twelve-person household –– we must exercise an abundance of caution, and extinguish absolutely any chance of COVID-19 spreading further.

If any of these people are infected, even if they appear healthy, they could easily infect anyone they interact with and start an outbreak that spreads and spreads and spreads across the entire country. That is why all of us, everywhere in Fiji, need to recognise we’re at risk and adhere closely to every measure of protection we’ve put in place.

Until we can trace each and every one of these passengers –– all Fijians, wherever they reside, should stay home as much as possible and limit all non-essential travel. Go straight to work, and come straight home.

Restaurant owners should cut their seating capacity to be within our 20-person limit, keep tables hygienic and safely spaced apart, and –– better yet –– switch to delivery. For those who already offer take-away or delivery, do it more. For all others, try offering this service for the first time.

So whether you’re a restaurant owner, a taxi driver, or operate any business that involves customer turnover and shared spaces, do your business as safely as possible. Sanitise your kitchens and vehicles, cancel any mass gatherings, and lead our country by example. Because if you can’t operate safely, you won’t operate at all.

My fellow Fijians, the border protection measures in the Lautoka confined area remain in full effect. The Fiji Police are monitoring checkpoints at the King’s Road at Matuwalu Junction, the feeder road at Vakabuli Junction and the Queen’s Road at Natalau Junction.

International shipping services to the Lautoka port are all diverted to Suva except for those that deliver goods exclusively for food and manufacturing purposes only for the Lautoka confined area. Details about who qualifies for this exemption are published on the Fijian Government website. The Commissioner for Police will be overseeing the safe and hygienic off and on-loading of all goods into Lautoka, and he is the main contact for the exporters and importers who qualify.

If anyone thinks our measures in the Lautoka confined area are tough, you haven’t been paying attention to what’s being enforced around the world in places where the spread of COVID-19 has gotten out of control. Entire countries in Europe are shut down, with every citizen ordered to stay at home. Every non-life-saving business is shuttered. As recently as today, our neighbours in Australia and New Zealand have been forced to take this heavy-handed action –– a path we are not afraid to follow if and when the need arises. Fijians must adhere to our advice now, or the controlled freedom that’s currently being taken for granted won’t last.

I know our border control measures aren’t convenient for everyone, but prioritising convenience won’t save lives. These measures are strict, they are necessary, they have been proven to work around the world, and that is all that matters.

Everywhere in Fiji, we need to do better. We’ve announced a ban on any gatherings of 20 or more people. Workplaces, banks, supermarkets, open-air markets, pharmacies and other areas where essential services are offered are okay for now, given you keep a safe distance apart. But this ban applies to weddings, parties, concerts, sports events, religious services, funerals –– everything, no exceptions. None of these plans are more important than people’s lives. You may live outside of Lautoka, or outside of Viti Levu, and feel that you can still gather and celebrate, safe from harm. This mentality is stupid, as you’re harming yourself. It is destructive, as you’re putting the integrity of our containment measures in jeopardy. And it is selfish, as you are putting the lives of others at risk.

It’s also unfortunate to see that a number of individuals have already sought to violate our border protection measures. So far, 11 have been charged and produced in court today. In the last few hours, another three have been arrested. I was shocked to learn that the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji illegally violated the Lautoka confined area and caught a flight to Sydney. Imagine the ordinary Fijians should have come into contact with her on her way to Nadi, through Nadi airport and on the plane itself. Her crimes put lives at-risk and are an affront to the hard work of our officers and staff, as well as the good measures we’ve put in place to protect our people.

So, if you’re planning to illegally enter or leave the confined area, or aid and abet someone seeking to do so, think again. This isn’t a game. This is a life or death situation, and punishments will match the seriousness of the offences committed.

While the borders are closed, we’re going to tremendous lengths to ensure life in the Lautoka confined area goes on normally as much as possible. Banks, pharmacies and supermarkets all remain open. Food is being regularly supplied. Essential services are being provided.

We’re maintaining the current borders of the Lautoka confined area for the time being. But if people continue to break the law and leave or enter, we will not have a choice – these restrictions will need to be prolonged and extended to new areas or even the entire country. Please keep this in mind, it’s on all of us to keep this virus contained.

And while I’ve been disappointed to see a few bad apples, skirting the rules and recommendations we’ve enacted to keep Fiji safe, I’ve also been incredibly heartened by the nationwide response to look out for each other’s health and wellbeing. There are stories of young people doing grocery shopping for their elderly neighbours. Stories of hotels opening their doors, free of charge, to those who are restricted from entering the confinement area. Stories of Fijians spreading love on social media, finding new ways to greet each other, and reminding their friends to spread facts, not fear.

We should all be grateful to our disciplined forces for their vigilance in keeping Fijians from harm, but our officers cannot be everywhere at once. We need every Fijian enlisted in our enforcement effort. If you see a large gathering going on, tell them to show some care and cancel it. If you know someone is planning to leave the Lautoka confined area, immediately tell the Police. If you see someone violating self-quarantine, tell them to take themselves home for the sake of everyone’s safety. If you see people sharing a cup to drink, hugging, shaking hands or even playing rugby, tell them to stop and play it safe. We need the eyes and ears of every Fijian on our side at all times – that is the only way we keep Fiji ahead of this virus.

Above all else, it remains vital that all Fijians practice good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds as often as you can. Do not touch your face, especially if your hands are dirty. If you need to spit, cough or sneeze, do it into a tissue and immediately throw that tissue away.  Practice social distancing. Remember, that means maintaining a safe distance of two metres from other people as much as possible.

Do it for your health and the health of your neighbours. Do it for the safety of those most vulnerable. Do it for Fiji.

Vinaka vakalevu. God Bless.