Thread by @tuiipelehaki

A thread on certain parts of the Hon. Prime Minister's Speech regarding the first novel coronavirus (COVID-19) confirmed case for #Fiji.

"This is an event we have expected and spent months preparing for – and it is an event we are dealing with decisively."

Update on the patient:

"The patient remains under close medical supervision and he is in stable condition. The case was transmitted while he was travelling abroad; there remain zero confirmed cases of local transmission in Fiji. "

"Upon confirmation of COVID-19, the Ministry's highly-trained contact team –– which effectively contained last year’s measles outbreak with the same contact-tracing methods –– was immediately put into action to identify all those with whom the patient has been in close contact."

On global monitoring:

"Our constant monitoring of the global spread of the pandemic has given us a clear idea of what is necessary now to prevent a large-scale outbreak in Fiji. "

On border control (1/2):

"From midnight tonight, our border restrictions on mainland China, Italy, Iran, Spain & South Korea will be extended to foreign nationals who have been present in USA & all of Europe, including the UK, within 14 days of their intended travel to Fiji.

On border control (2/2).

"Also from midnight, anyone entering Fiji from any overseas destination will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days, meaning they must stay in one place and avoid contact with others or going out in public as much as possible."

On local travel:

"The first case is identified in Lautoka, & that is where the most stringent local travel restrictions will take effect. Starting tonight at midnight, all schools and non-essential businesses within the Greater Lautoka Area will be closed until further notice."

Greater Lautoka area definition:

"We’re defining the Greater Lautoka Area as the area spanning from King’s Road at Nacilau Junction past Matawalu Village, to the feeder road at Vakabuli Junction, to the Queen’s Road at Natalau Junction."

What remains open in Lautoka during this period:

"Banks, supermarkets and pharmacies –– and other essential businesses –– in the Greater Lautoka Area will remain open."

Definition of essential businesses (1/3):

"Essential businesses include air and rescue services, air traffic control services, civil aviation, telecommunication services, food and sanitary manufacturing plants, electricity services..."

Definition of essential businesses cont. (2/3)

"...emergency services, fire services, health and hospital services, lighthouse services, meteorological services, mine pumping, ventilation and winding, sanitary services..."

Definition of essential businesses cont. (3/3)

"...supply and distribution of fuel & gas, power, telecommunications, garbage collection, transport services & water & sewage services..."

Update for employees (1/3):

"Fijians who work –– but do not live –– in this area should report to the nearest office outside of the monitored area, regardless of whether their industry falls under the essential businesses list."

Update for employees (2/3):

"If there is no branch of your company outside of the Greater Lautoka area, please contact your employer and government will, in the next few days, announce how your absence from work will be treated during this situation."

Update for employers:

"We advise all employers to accommodate the needs of your employees and not make any employees redundant."

Update for those living in the Greater Lautoka Area:

"Basically, if you are living in the Greater Lautoka Area, you will now stay in the Greater Lautoka Area. If you do not live in Greater Lautoka Area, you cannot travel there, even if you work there."

Update on Food Security (1/3):

"In order to maintain food security, the Agriculture Marketing Authority will be buying fruits, vegetables & root crops at the border of the Greater Lautoka Area.."

Update on Food Security (2/3):

"...from the farmers & middle-men to be sold to the vendors for sale at local markets in the Greater Lautoka Area..."

Update on Food Security (3/3)

"The Minister for Agriculture will provide the specifics of this programme later today (19 March 2020)."

Update on areas outside the containment area (1/5):

"Outside of these containment measures in the Greater Lautoka Area, our nationwide efforts to contain COVID-19 are also being drastically expanded, effective immediately."

Definition of a Gathering:

"Gatherings of 20 or more people are now banned. Gatherings are defined as any assembly of individuals in a single location, including meetings, religious gatherings, such as church, mosque and temple services, and sports events."

Update on areas outside the containment area (2/5):

"At this stage, workplaces, businesses and inter-island shipping services outside of Lautoka may remain open, buses and Fiji Link services can continue and schools – outside of Lautoka – will remain open."

Update on areas outside of the containment area (3/5):

"However, all Fijians should avoid all non-essential travel. Nightclubs, gyms, cinemas, swimming pools, fitness centres and.."

Update on areas outside of the containment area (4/5)

"...even recreational contact sporting engagements –– which, by their nature, make personal space nearly impossible –– should also be closed and ceased everywhere in Fiji, effective immediately."

Update on areas outside of the containment area (5/5)

"For the time being, the judiciary will continue to function, but there will be no movement of people in remand centres into or out of the Greater Lautoka Area."

Update on Fever Clinics (1/2):

"We will also be establishing fever clinics in each Division, similar to what other countries have done to contain the virus at the local level."

Update on Fever Clinics (1/2):

"These clinics will be designed to keep people with fevers away from vulnerable people who visit Health Centres and into separate, dedicated spaces specially designed to effectively identify possible COVID-19 cases. "

Update on Current Measures (1/2):

"This is an aggressive, proportionate and – most importantly – scalable response. All of these measures will be reviewed in 14 days’ time."

Update on current measures (2/2):

"Before then, measures may escalate if necessary as we monitor the situation, particularly the outcomes of our contact tracing."

Update on What YOU can do (1/2):

"My fellow Fijians: Wherever you’re watching this address, the number one thing you can do today to serve our nationwide response is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water."

Update on What YOU can do (2/2):

"All it takes is 20 seconds of hand washing to potentially save a life"

Update on Social Distancing (1/2):

"From today – and this is also absolutely vital – Fijians must join the rest of the world in practicing what is known as “social distancing”..."

Update on Social Distancing (2/2):

"Basically, it means limiting contact –– especially in groups –– as much as possible to prevent person-to-person transmission of the disease."

Update on Safe Distancing (1/4):

"We need to keep a safe distance of two metres from one another as much as possible"

Update on Safe Distancing (2/4):

"We should also all refrain from visiting elderly homes, prisons or patients in hospitals. We must sneeze or cough into our elbow or a tissue which should be immediately discarded."

Update on Safe Distancing (3/4):

"Do not share takis or bilos. Do not shake hands or hug one another, as difficult as that may be."

Urging Greatest Level of Urgency (1/4):

"We know this virus strikes hardest at those most vulnerable. We need to learn from the hard lessons of other nations who failed to practice social distancing until it was too late."

Urging Greatest Level of Urgency (2/4):

"So, while young people often do not show symptoms or suffer serious cases, they can infect elderly members of society, including their grandparents, and those with underlying health conditions, such as NCDs."

Urging Greatest Level of Urgency (3/4):

"That is why I’m calling on all Fijians, but particularly on young people, to exercise the greatest levels of caution; do your duty in protecting the most vulnerable in our society by adhering to the rigours of social distancing."

Urging Greatest Level of Urgency (4/4):

"Together, let’s use our God-given wisdom, act responsibly, and get Fiji out in front of this."

On Panic buying (1/2):

"I want to assure every Fijian family that Fiji is food secure, and can take comfort knowing that an abundance of vital cleaning and hygiene products are locally produced."

On Panic buying (2/2):

"There is no sense in running to the market and buying up massive amounts of goods. We will not be cutting ourselves off from importing food and other essential items; there will be a steady supply of the goods Fijian families count on."

Camaraderie during this time (1/3):

I want to make another important point. Yes, we’ve introduced historic levels of travel restrictions.

Camaraderie during this time (2/3):

"Yes, we’ll be practicing social distancing. But that doesn’t mean we’re distancing ourselves from the genuine care and camaraderie that bind us together as a society."

Camaraderie during this time (2/3):

"We’re heading into a difficult period, surely. But in this moment of challenge, our national unity cannot run in short supply."

Camaraderie during this time (3/3):

"No one should act in fear or with panic; we must all act out of the love we hold for our fellow Fijians. We are in this together. We will endure this together. And we will overcome this together as well."

Trusted sources of information on COVID-19:

"As always, all Fijians should rely exclusively on the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, along with the World Health Organisation (@WHO), as trusted sources of information."

Contact Details for Ministry of Health (1/2):

"Finally, Fiji’s health relies on your help in our containment efforts. If you are feeling unwell, or know someone who is feeling unwell, immediately contact the Health Ministry on one of these numbers:.."

Contact Details for Ministry of Health (2/2):

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.

Regular Updates:

"We will provide regular updates to the public on our response as the situation evolves. In the meantime, stay safe and do your part."

To access the full speech, you can do so through the following link on the @FijianGovt website:

bit.ly/2xcOVWv