CONDITIONS FOR CARTAGE OF ESSENTIAL GOODS

Within Containment Area (No approval required)

  • All consignors are to pack and sanitise all packages/ perishables and provisioning which are to be loaded on trucks and the vehicle operators are to drop off the goods to designated delivery destination.
  • The consignee must maintain records of consignors and vehicle operators/ drivers for contact tracing purposes and drivers must download the careFiji contact tracing app and switch on the Bluetooth at all times.
  • All drivers must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as masks, 2 meters physical distancing observed at all times and regularly sanitise.
  • Consignors must make arrangements in advance with the consignees before drop off.
  • The vehicle driver must at all times carry a valid identification card (ID).
  • The exposed areas of the vehicle must be sanitised before and after loading.
  • In case of an emergency such as a mechanical problem or an accident, the driver may attend to the emergency but maintain all COVID safe precautions such as wearing of PPE, physical distancing and must ensure they do not come in contact with any person.
  • The driver needs to maintain log-record of the products carried, date and time of visit to the lockdown area and the sanitisation procedures that the driver followed.
  • Specialist vehicles such as fuel and water tankers may carry an additional passenger only. The drive/passenger (either one), may disembark to carry out necessary technical responsibilities but maintain all COVID safe precautions such as wearing of PPE, physical distancing and must ensure they do not come in contact with any person. Prior to re-entering the cab of the vehicle, the individual must sanitise. 

Between/Outside Containment Areas (Approval required)

  • Those who intend to transfer essential goods between/outside containment areas must have obtained prior approval from Ministry of Health and Medical Services/ Incident Management Team (IMT).
  • Once approval is granted, the following conditions must be adhered to:
    • All drivers must wear appropriate PPE such as masks, 2 meters physcial distancing observed at all times and regularly sanitise.
    • The consignees must maintain records of consignors/ operators for contact tracing purposes and drivers must download the careFiji contact tracing app and switch on the Bluetooth at all times.
    • During loading/off-loading, the driver must not disembark from the vehicle. The cab windows must be drawn up at all times. Loading/Off-loading must be carried out by persons from that particular delivery destination (containment zone or non-lockdown area). There must be no overlap or contact between the driver and those handling goods.
    • The vehicle driver must at all times carry a valid ID.
    • The exposed areas of the vehicle must be sanitised before and after loading.
    • In case of an emergency such as a mechanical problem or an accident, the driver may attend to the emergency but maintain all COVID safe precautions such as wearing of PPE, physical distancing and must ensure they do not come in contact with any person from that area.
    • The driver needs to maintain log-record of the products carried, date and time of visit to the lockdown area and the sanitisation procedures that the driver followed.
    • Specialist vehicles such as fuel and water tankers may carry an additional passenger only. The drive/passenger (either one), may disembark to carry out necessary technical responsibilities but maintain all COVID safe precautions such as wearing of PPE, physical distancing and must ensure they do not come in contact with any person. Prior to re-entering the cab of the vehicle, the individual must sanitise.

Any person who directly or indirectly refuses or neglects to comply with the authorization by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services commits an offence and is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years or both. For more information visit http://www.health.gov.fj/.

Approval Contact Details
Name: Joe Fuata
Organization: COVID-19 IMT
Phone: +679 3306177
Email: covidpassmoh@gmail.com

The operators must provide the following details in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services while requesting for an approval:

  • Name of the Company;
  • Company COVID-19 Response Standard Operating Procedures;
  • Vehicle registration numbers;
  • Names, address and ID numbers for all drivers/passengers;
  • Details of goods;
  • Details of travel routes and time; .and
  • Phone and email contact.