About the global outbreak of COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) identified COVID-19 as causing an outbreak of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and early 2020. Since then this new virus has spread across the world and as of today, 109 countries have reported cases of COVID-19 and 61 are assessed as having local transmission.

What we know about this disease is:

4 out of 5 people with COVID-19 will experience only mild symptoms, like fever and a dry cough

Around 95% of people who have been sick with COVID-19 have recovered or a recovering

So far children and adolescents have been far less affected than COVID-19 and their symptoms have almost always been mild

Those most at risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19 are people over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and chronic lung disease.

Status of the global outbreak in Fiji

Since the declaration by WHO that COVID is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January, Fiji has put in place strict travel entry requirements and screening protocols at all our international ports of entry to slow the importation of the virus into the country. Up until today, there are no confirmed cases in Fiji. Cases that were classified as suspected were later cleared after returning negative laboratory tests.

What the Fijian Government is doing in response to the outbreak

As of 1 March, Fiji has strengthened its travel restrictions with foreign nationals not permitted entry if they have a travel history to mainland China, South Korea, Italy and Iran within 14 days of travel to Fiji. Furthermore, all incoming international travellers must undergo thermal screening in addition to the Supplementary Arrival Card. Similar measures will be enforced at seaports.

In addition, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has developed a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan which is a living document that is being implemented with the oversight of the Incident Management Team.  MHMS has strengthened surveillance systems for early detection of the disease, trained health staff and is preparing and resourcing its facilities to cope with managing patient surges once the first case is confirmed for Fiji.

Given the rapid global spread of this disease, it is very likely that we will get the COVID-19 disease in Fiji, hence the urgent need to prepare health care workers and all government for that eventuality. There are a few simple things that all staff should be able to do to prevent and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Fiji:

1. Step up cleaning of workplace premises

• More frequent cleaning of areas with high human contact, such as counters where customers are served and rooms where visitors are hosted.
• More frequent cleaning of general public access areas such as lifts, pantries, toilets, and bin areas.
• Ensuring that all offices and workplaces facilitate and resource supplies for proper hand hygiene and cough etiquette, e.g. soap, hand gel, tissue paper, waste basket, etc.

2. Step up with practicing safe personal hygiene, health-seeking behaviour and social distancing

• Frequently wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a alcohol-base hand gel/sanitiser.
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue, sleeve, or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Throw tissue into a closed bin after use. Clean hands after coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Keep 1 metre distance away from others – avoid shaking hands
• Avoiding contact with people who are unwell, especially those with flu-like illness.
• Staff who are unwell with flu like symptoms must stay away from the workplace and wear a mask if they are in contact with other people, so that they do not spread infection to others.
• Staff who are well do not need to wear a mask.

3. Avoid non-essential international travel

If you have been to a COVID-19 affected country in the last 14 days and develop a fever, cough or difficulty breathing immediately contact one of the numbers listed below. If you need to see a doctor please call ahead, using the following phone numbers, before visiting to reduce the risk of infecting other patients.

• Central 2219905
• Eastern 2219906
• Western 2219907
• Northern 2219908

Please refer to the latest advisories put out by the MHMS and WHO for your sources of information.

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services website http://www.health.gov.fj/

Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MoHFiji/

WHO website https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public