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QUARANTINE-FIJI
More than 5,000 people have gone through quarantine in Fiji
SUVA, Aug. 31, 2020 (BSS/Xinhua) – Fiji confirmed on Monday that more than 5,000 people have gone through border quarantine process since the island nation reported its first COVID-19 case in March this year.
Fiji’s Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete said on Monday that Fiji continues to receive repatriation flights in the coming months and no one is exempted from the quarantine procedures.
“We have a duty of care. Because they are our people and we have to be ready for the fact that if we do have somebody with COVID-19 and is a border quarantine case then we will have the mechanism in place to be able to look after them well,” he said.
It has been more than 100 days since the island nation last reported a COVID-19 community transmission case.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry will be able to charge quarantine fees to foreigners who enter the island nation under COVID-19 protocols.
Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said on Monday that under current requirements, taxpayers funds are used for all quarantine related costs for foreigners, but the Health Ministry will be able to charge tourists not only for hotel bills but also related medical and quarantine services.
Since March 19, Fiji has reported a total of 28 COVID-19 cases and two of them have died. The island nation still has three active COVID-19 cases.
Currently, Fiji still maintains a nationwide curfew effective from March 30.
BSS/Xinhua/MSY/1234 hrs