- Mini bus driver has been found. He is in isolation.
- The three people in Moturiki have tested negative for COVID-19.
- All drivers and passengers will have to wear masks. Drivers will not be allowed to drive if they don't wear masks. People will not be allowed to board public transportation if they do not have masks
All public transport drivers and passengers are required to wear masks and have the careFiji app from today or they will not be allowed to be in the vehicle.
While speaking during a press conference, Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong has thanked people who have started wearing masks however he is calling on everyone to wear a mask.
He also stresses to people to ensure you cover your nose, not just your mouth, when you wear a mask or else it would be just like a mouthguard.
Dcotor Fong says it should not just be a box-ticking exercise.
He stresses that we all should wear masks properly.
Dcotor Fong says there is a real concern for maskless people at the bus stand.
He says from today, mask-wearing is required in all public transport.
All drivers and passengers will have to wear masks. Drivers will not be allowed to drive if they don't wear masks.
People will not be allowed to board public transport if they do not have masks.
Strict physical distancing is required in all public transport – that includes buses and mini buses.
Doctor Fong says this will not be convenient but it is necessary. He says if this virus takes hold of our community, no one will be driving anyone anywhere. The Permanent Secretary says drivers and transport operators must make this sacrifice or they will not be operating at all.
If they do not follow, those businesses will be shut down.
Land Transport Authority officials will also be on the ground to enforce this.
All businesses also have to ask customers and passengers to have the careFIJI app on. Doctor Fong says customers should not be allowed to enter the premises unless they are masked and have the app. The staff of the businesses should be leading example by wearing masks properly. Wear masks and keep the careFIJI app on if you are going shopping or marketing today. There will also be physical distancing so please ensure you follow this to stop the spread of this virus.
Dr Fong says the curfew will remain from 11pm to 4am.
However the Fiji Police Force will be enforcing restricted movements across Viti Levu from 7pm today until 4am Monday 26th April. Only essential movements will be allowed.
He says this is to ensure people stay home and save lives.
Please stay at home, spend time with your family and help stop the spread of the virus.
He says he may be forced to have lockdowns in Suva, Nausori and Lami corridor if the rules and protocols are not followed and COVID cases rise.
Doctor Fong stresses do not take this virus lightly.
There have been another 20,000 downloads of the careFIJI app since yesterday. Doctor Fong says he understands there are more than 600,000 smartphones in Fiji and we want everyone to download the COVID contact tracing app.
There were more than 168,000 downloads so far.
Dr Fong also says at the start of this outbreak, the daily cap for COVID testing was 600 but this has been beaten by our front line heroes. More than 1,000 tests have been conducted in a single day which is a record for Fiji.
Some good news as the mini bus driver has been found. He is in isolation.
Doctor Fong says the Health Ministry is now looking for the passengers of that mini bus that travelled from the Lautoka Mini Bus Stand to Nadi at 5.30pm Saturday April 17th.
If you rode in this mini bus from Lautoka to Nadi that night, please call 158.
[image: Fijian Government/Facebook]
No new cases were announced today.
We still have 19 cases.
The three people in Moturiki have tested negative for COVID-19.
Dr Fong says this test confirms that the three were not contagious when they went to Moturiki. This also means that Waicoka Village is not a screening place.
Doctor Fong also says the ministry never asked people to wear gloves during this pandemic because clean hands are much safer.
